Mayor Zohran Mamdani has launched a civil war in the Democratic Party with his controversial endorsement of a fellow socialist’s bid to oust incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat, insiders said Monday.
Mamdani’s decision to support fellow Democratic Socialists of America insurgent Darializa Avila Chevalier in the June 23 primary for the northern Manhattan/Bronx House 13th House District is part of a long-term effort by him and fellow socialists to take control of the Democratic Party, sources said.
“In New York City, it’s a civil war in the Democratic Party,” said campaign consultant Evan Roth Smith.
Hizzoner’s backing of Chevalier against veteran Espaillat for the party’s nomination will be a “test case” for expanding the mayor’s and DSA’s influence in the city, Roth Smith said.
“The 13th District is an early experiment on how far Mamdani’s popularity goes,” Roth Smith said.
Even state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs took a shot at Mamdani for turning on Espaillat, a five-term incumbent.
“I think it’s a mistake. When you have a good incumbent, stick with him,” Jacobs said.
“Espaillat is an excellent congressman,” he said. “I’ve heard from a lot people in the Hispanic community and in general who are upset about him going against Espaillat.”
The seat is overwhelmingly comprised of Hispanic, Latino and black residents and is not considered a DSA stronghold — unlike the “Commie Corridor” in the 7th and 10th Districts, which are also the sites of heated Democratic primary races.
But younger voters who support Mamdani and may be more receptive to backing his insurgent candidate have been moving into the 13th District.
Mamdani bested Andrew Cuomo in both the mayoral Democratic primary and general election in the 13th District. — even though Espaillat endorsed the former governor in the primary. Espaillat switched to Mamdani after the mayor won the nomination.
The mayor is also supporting fellow DSA member Assemblywoman Claire Valdez for an open seat in the 7th District covering the waterfront neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, considered a DSA stronghold.
Outgoing longtime Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who is retiring, has endorsed Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso against Valdez in the primary.
Former City Comptroller Brad Lander has also gotten Mamdani’s nod over incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in the DSA-friendly 10th District covering brownstone Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.
“He’s going to be mayor for four years and maybe eight. They believe in the long game,” Roth Smith said, referring to the far-left group.
Smith noted that Mamdani didn’t get all of the tax hikes he wanted from Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature in this year’s budget negotiations — and wants more representatives in Albany and Congress who are on “his team.”
But Jacobs said Mamdani was not being a team player by messing with the New York congressional delegation.
“We should not be fomenting dissent in the primaries when we have so much at stake in the general election,” Jacobs said.
“It’s an effort by Mamdani to flex his muscles in the city,” he said.
“We’ll see how that turns out.”