A progressive challenger from New York City’s left is taking a swing at House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, signaling a wider fight between insurgent Democrats and party leadership that has been growing in the city and in Congress.

The push against the Democratic establishment that started gaining momentum with figures like Zohran Mamdani is now landing squarely in Jeffries’ backyard. Chi Ossé, a New York City Council member with democratic socialist ties, announced a primary challenge that makes this contest more than a local race. For Republicans watching, the battle exposes the fractures inside the Democratic Party and the leftward pressure their leaders now face.

Ossé’s political identity is unmistakable: he has embraced the language and tactics of the insurgent left and has connections to the Democratic Socialists of America. He briefly left the DSA after taking office in 2022, then rejoined over the summer, and he often deploys the same anti-establishment rhetoric that has defined Mamdani and other left-wing activists. His public lines include critiques of “late-stage capitalism,” slogans like “Eat the Rich!”, , “I wish Biden were a socialist.”

Those phrases matter because they signal a policy outlook that is far from the moderate, pragmatic politics Jeffries represents. On policing, Ossé’s record includes a June 2022 post during the Black Lives Matter unrest that read, “We’re going to defund the NYPD … I DONT SPEAK [pig].” That kind of rhetoric troubles many voters who want public safety restored rather than experiments that remove resources from law enforcement.

On foreign policy, Ossé’s statements after October 7 framed Israel’s actions through a narrow lens, describing Israel’s “occupation” of Gaza as the “primary root of the violence.” He said he did not stand with terrorists while also offering language that critics say rationalized Palestinian violence. He has accused Israel of genocide and linked Israeli policy to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, claims that are controversial and factually disputed in public debate.

Critics on the right point to Ossé’s personal background to argue that his political branding is performative. Like Mamdani, he attended a selective private school — Friends Seminary, where tuition runs high — and grew up in a relatively privileged setting. Conservatives call this the familiar pattern of champagne socialists who push radical change while coming from comfortable circumstances.

Even some on the left are wary of this primary. Mamdani himself reportedly urged Ossé not to run, warning that a congressional bid could derail local priorities and the broader progressive agenda in New York City. That disagreement became public enough that Mamdani rescinded an invitation for Ossé to attend his election-night victory party, underscoring internal tensions within the insurgent movement.

When Axios asked Ossé why he decided to run, he said it was because “The Democratic Party’s leadership is not only failing to effectively fight back against Donald Trump, they have also failed to deliver a vision that we can all believe in.” That critique reads like an appeal to disaffected progressive voters, but it also highlights the party’s struggle to balance anti-Trump opposition with coherent policy and electoral strategy.

Jeffries has publicly brushed off the primary challenge, signaling confidence that establishment backing and a record of service will carry him through. Republicans see the showdown as an opportunity; a bruising primary could weaken House Democrats heading into national fights, and it illustrates how the party’s left flank is willing to test its leaders even when it risks short-term losses.

The contest is part of a broader pattern where progressives push hard against party elders. Supporters of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are reportedly eyeballing a primary against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer after disagreements over the recent government funding vote. When eight Democrats crossed with Republicans to pass a continuing resolution, many on the left viewed it as a betrayal, deepening calls for primary challenges at multiple levels.

Editor’s Note: President Trump is leading America into the “Golden Age” as Democrats try desperately to stop it.