DSA-Backed Candidates Surge Ahead in Queens as Mamdani-Aligned Progressives Gain Ground
Candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) appeared poised for major victories across several congressional, state senate, and state assembly races in Queens on Tuesday, reflecting the growing influence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city’s progressive movement.
According to unofficial election results released after voting concluded, DSA-supported candidates including Claire Valdez, Samantha Cattan, David Orkin, and Aber Kawas held significant leads over their opponents.
Political analysts described the results as a major breakthrough for progressive politics in Queens, with DSA-backed candidates on track to capture at least three new seats. The elections also highlighted voters’ appetite for change, as several incumbent officeholders faced strong challenges from candidates running on more progressive platforms.
In New York’s 7th Congressional District, Claire Valdez emerged as the frontrunner to succeed retiring Representative Nydia Velázquez. With approximately 92% of votes counted, Valdez held about 56% of the vote, comfortably ahead of Antonio Reynoso, who had roughly 35%.
In the race for the State Senate’s 12th District, Aber Kawas led with nearly 60% of the vote, positioning himself to replace retiring Senator Michael Gianaris. His opponent, Assemblyman Steven Raga, trailed with about 40%.
Meanwhile, Samantha Cattan maintained a commanding lead in her Assembly race, while attorney David Orkin appeared set to unseat incumbent Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar in the 38th Assembly District, holding roughly 59% of the vote.
Supporters celebrated the early results at a DSA election-watch event in Brooklyn. Assembly Member Diana Moreno, who won a special election earlier this year, described the outcome as a victory for grassroots organizing and community engagement.
One of the most closely watched contests involved State Senator Jessica Ramos, who appeared in danger of losing her seat. Her challenger, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, held an advantage of roughly 10 percentage points in early returns.
Ramos, once considered a leading progressive figure, faced criticism from some activists after endorsing former Governor Andrew Cuomo instead of Mamdani in the mayoral race and opposing a proposed casino development project in Queens.
Elsewhere, González-Rojas’ former chief of staff, Brian Romero, was also on track for victory in the 34th Assembly District, leading his opponent by a wide margin.
Results for candidates backed by the Queens County Democratic Party were mixed. While several party-supported candidates appeared headed for victory, one of the closest races was in Assembly District 30, where Patrick Martinez held a razor-thin lead of just 13 votes over former NYPD detective Shamsul Haque with nearly all ballots counted, raising the possibility of a recount.
The results underscore the growing strength of progressive and socialist-aligned candidates in New York City politics, particularly in Queens, where Mamdani’s political influence appears to be reshaping the local Democratic landscape.
