City Councilman Chi Osse appears poised to abandon his potential bid against Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries in the upcoming congressional race. This decision follows the recent vote by New York City’s Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) chapter, which chose not to endorse Osse on Saturday, signaling a lack of support.
The results of the vote were telling: 52% of members opposed endorsing Osse, while 46% supported it, and 2% abstained. This outcome is a relief for Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, himself a DSA member, who had personally urged the group to withhold their endorsement from Osse.
Had the DSA decided to back Osse against Mamdani’s advice, it could have sparked a tense divide between the incoming mayor and the influential left-wing organization just as he prepares to assume office on January 1.
Following the vote’s conclusion on Saturday night, Osse indicated to the Daily News that he is unlikely to pursue a 2026 primary challenge against Hakeem Jeffries, a prominent figure in the U.S. House Democratic leadership.
“Running in this race without the support of NYC-DSA, a group I proudly associate with, is not part of my plans,” Osse stated in a text message. Osse currently represents a Council district that includes Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy.
While the vote by the DSA’s Electoral Working Group is non-binding, the outcome significantly influences the organization’s stance. Although the Brooklyn branches of the DSA could independently decide to back Osse, the working group’s decision suggests that an official endorsement is unlikely.
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.
