House minority leader Jeffries congratulates anti-Israel primary winners who refused to endorse him

US Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the House minority leader, congratulates recent winners of New York Democratic party primaries, despite two of the candidates declining to support him as a potential House speaker.

Jeffries’ statement congratulates Darializa Avila Chevalier, Claire Valdez, Brad Lander and Micah Lasher, who all won Democratic party primaries in New York City this week.

All are expected to win seats in Congress in the general election in their Democratic-majority districts.

“From public servants to union organizers to community activists, the path is different but the work is the same,” Jeffries says in a statement. “We must decisively address the affordability crisis and crush far-right extremism.”

Congratulations to our newest members of the NYC congressional delegation.

From public servants to union organizers to community activists, the path is different but the work is the same.

We must decisively address the affordability crisis and crush far-right extremism! pic.twitter.com/f4XC6dpX7q

— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeemjeffries) June 27, 2026

In each election, Israel was a central issue. Chevalier and Valdez are aligned with anti-Zionist ideology, while Lander is Jewish and defines himself as a “liberal Zionist” but also harshly critical of Israel.

Jeffries, as House minority leader, regularly welcomes new party members to the House, but the congratulatory statement is complicated by political circumstances.

Chevalier defeated incumbent Adriano Espaillat and Lander beat incumbent Dan Goldman. Jeffries had endorsed Espaillat and Goldman.

Chevalier and Valdez, both members of the far left Democratic Socialists of America, have declined to endorse Jeffries as majority leader if Democrats take back the House.

Their refusal to endorse Jeffries highlights the tense relationship between the DSA and more moderate Democrats.

At an election night party for Valdez, attendees chanted, “You’re next,” at Jeffries when he appeared on a screen at the event.

Mainstream Jewish leaders have lined up behind Jeffries amid threats against his leadership from the DSA.

Jeffries has supported Israel’s existence as a Jewish and Democratic state and backed US security assistance to Israel.

He has also been harshly critical of the war in Gaza, saying last year that “the starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable.”

Those positions put him in line with Democratic Party moderates, while the insurgent DSA is more in line with far left anti-Zionism.