City Councilman Chi Osse is all but certainly giving up his challenge of Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries in next year’s congressional elections after members of New York City’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter voted against offering Osse the group’s endorsement on Saturday.
The vote — which had 52% of members voting against an endorsement, 46% in favor and 2% abstaining — is a relief for Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a DSA member who directly urged the group to not endorse Osse.
If the DSA had defied Mamdani and voted to endorse Osse, an awkward rift could have developed between the incoming mayor and the influential left-wing group just as he prepares to take office Jan. 1.
Late Saturday night, after the vote came in, Osse signaled to the Daily News he’s likely not going to launch a 2026 primary run against Jeffries, the powerful U.S. House Democratic leader.
“I have no intention of running this race without the support of NYC-DSA, of which I am proud to be a member,” Osse, whose Council district spans Crown Heights and Bedstuy, said in a text message.
Saturday’s vote from the local DSA’s Electoral Working Group was non-binding, and the group’s Brooklyn branches could still consider backing Osse’s bid against Jeffries. However, the working group’s recommendation weighs heavily, likely meaning the DSA won’t move to endorse in the race.
In arguing against endorsing Osse, Mamdani said at a packed DSA meeting in Manhattan earlier this week that it would become “more difficult” for his incoming administration to enact his affordability agenda if Osse got the group’s official nod, as first reported by the Daily News.
Sources also said Mamdani was concerned Osse did not have a viable path to victory against Jeffries, who is popular in his Brooklyn district and has access to a vast fundraising network.
Supporters of endorsing Osse have argued the opportunity to challenge Jeffries is ripe in the wake of Mamdani’s historic victory in the Nov. 4 mayoral election. Jeffries, a centrist Democrat, has long been a target of intense criticism from the DSA and progressives due to his support for Israel and other stances.
