After about a week of early voting, the NYC primaries will take place tomorrow, June 23. New Yorkers will have the opportunity to vote in elections for city, state and federal offices, with seven Congressional races heating up throughout the city, pitting long-standing incumbents against new faces, seasoned politicians against those currently out of office, and candidates banking on their popularity to declare victory before moving on to the general election in November.
Candidates in the upcoming congressional primaries include both Democrats and members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Since the key House contests are Democratic primaries, only registered Democrats can vote in them.
Here is what New Yorkers need to know about the key House elections taking place on June 23:
NY-10 (Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn)
Brad Lander vs. Dan Goldman
Arguably, the closest-watched race this year has been for the 10th Congressional District, where former city Comptroller Brad Lander is challenging incumbent Dan Goldman for the House seat. The latest polls have shown Lander with a sizable lead.
Both candidates are progressive; neither is a DSA member, though Lander has significant support from DSA-aligned political figures. Both Lander and Goldman have made a sizable part of their campaigns’ focus on limiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Both have similar stances on other issues, such as supporting abortion rights and expanding healthcare access. Lander, who was endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has positioned himself as the more progressive candidate, while Goldman has touted his experience in the federal government.
NY-12 Upper East Side, Upper West Side and Midtown
A crowded field of Democratic candidates are in the running to replace the retiring Jerry Nadler, who has been in office since 1992.
The candidates include: Assembly Members Micah Lasher and Alex Bores; Kennedy kin Jack Schlossberg; and lawyer and activist George Conway. Other candidates on the ballot are Nina Schwalbe, Patrick Timmins, Chris Diep and Laura Dunn.
As of June 22, Lasher and Bores were ahead in the polls, but anything can change. Both candidates have discussed on the campaign trails topics pertaining to Social Security, affordability, climate change, among other major issues.
NY-13 Upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx
Darializa Avila Chevalier vs. incumbent Adriano Espaillat
Another highly watched Congressional race, this one stars Espaillat seeking reelection against challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier, a DSA member and PhD student at the City University of New York, whom Mamdani recently endorsed.
During a recent public debate on Spectrum NY1 News, both candidates sparred over key issues, including Super PAC donations, immigration and housing. But Espaillat zeroed in on Avila Chevalier’s social media posts from 2020 to 2022 in which she criticized former Vice President Kamala Harris, the police and the U.S. military.
A message she posted in 2022 on X (then Twitter) appeared to mock service members, describing their work as committing “war crimes.”
As of June 22, Espaillat has a strong lead in most polls. The National Black Empowerment Action Fund has Espaillat at 35% over Avila Chevelier’s 27%.
Two other candidates in the running are Oscar J. Romero, Jr., and Theo Bruce Chino-Tavarez.
NY-7 (Parts of Queens and Brooklyn)
A number of candidates are looking to succeed the retiring Nydia Velázquez in the 7th Congressional District seat. Leading the race are Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, a traditional Democrat, and Queens Assembly Member Clarie Valdez, also a DSA member.
Valdez, endorsed by Mamdani, is currently leading in the race, according to recent polls, but Reynoso is a close second. Also in the running are Queens City Council Member Julie Won and Vichal Kumar.
NY-6 (Queens)
Chuck Park vs. incumbent Grace Meng
Meng is considered the favorite in the race against Park, a former U.S. diplomat, though her campaign is not without recent controversy. A telephone town hall she hosted became a flashpoint in her campaign. While her team said the May 19 event reached more than 2,500 constituents, Park supporters criticized the format, arguing she avoided an in-person forum.
The 6th District includes the neighborhoods of Auburndale, Bayside, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Flushing, Forest Hills, Glendale, Kew Gardens, Maspeth, Middle Village, Murray Hill, Woodside and Rego Park.
NY-14 (Parts of Bronx and Queens)
Various candidates vs. incumbent Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC)
The clear frontrunner in NY-14 is DSA member AOC, but her campaign is not going unchallenged by Marty Dolan and Felipe Garcia.
While AOC is the overwhelming favorite in the race, with nearly $15 million on hand, Dolan and Garcia have presented themselves as more moderate alternatives. Meanwhile, Republican Diamant Hysenaj will await the winner in the November general election.
NY-15 (Bronx)
Various candidates vs. incumbent Ritchie Torres
Torres, who assumed Congressional office in 2021, is the clear frontrunner in the race, facing challengers former Assembly Member Michael Blake and activist Jose Vega. Torres is a strong supporter of Israel, condemns antisemitism and defends Jewish identity and Zionism. He has criticized speech that he feels crosses the line from criticism of Israel to antisemitism.
With reporting by Renee DeLorenzo and Emily Swanson
