The move could “deepen the divide within the Democratic Party over age and ideology,” Axios reports
New York City Council member Chi Ossé, a close ally of socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, is privately plotting a primary challenge against House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, according to a new report.
“Ossé, who backed Mamdani in the mayoral primary and headlined a rally and canvass efforts for him, has spoken privately with progressive groups about potentially taking on Jeffries in the Democratic primary next year,” Axios reported Wednesday evening, citing three people familiar with the discussions.
The move by Ossé, a former Black Lives Matter activist with a large social media following, “could drive a further wedge” between Mamdani, who has rattled the Democratic establishment, and Jeffries, who has declined to endorse the democratic socialist with the mayoral election just weeks away, according to Axios.
“Any effort by Ossé to unseat Jeffries—one of the most powerful Democrats in the nation—likely would deepen the divide within the Democratic Party over age and ideology,” the Axios report noted. The party has already been in turmoil for months, beset by financial troubles, bitter infighting, and sinking approval ratings.
The news about Ossé comes on the heels of reports this summer that Mamdani’s allies were preparing primary challenges against Jefferies and other powerful New York Democrats. While Jeffries at the time brushed off the threats, some Democrats were reportedly left in “absolute panic and fear” following Mamdani’s primary victory, torn between endorsing a candidate whom many privately call “toxic” and risking primary challenges if they stay silent.
Some Democrats are already facing consequences after endorsing Mamdani. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently saw her poll numbers plummet since she backed the avowed socialist, with the pollster calling her reelection bid “deeply vulnerable.”
Ossé denied that he would run in text messages to Axios Wednesday evening. “All I have to say is that it would take a very dire situation in order for me to even consider spending the rest of my 20s in dc,” Ossé wrote, later adding, “Just to be clear, I’m not running for Congress.”
The House Democratic leader’s team, meanwhile, “has already issued a smashmouth warning to his would-be opponents,” Axios reported, “threatening to target democratic socialists in the state legislature if they go after his congressional seat.”
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