Leading Black elected officials, from House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to members of the Congressional Black Caucus, are lining up behind Rep. Adriano Espaillat as he fends off a primary challenge from a far-left ally of Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Espaillat, 71, is being challenged by 32-year-old Diariliza Avila Chevalier, a Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate who has also won Mamdani’s endorsement.
Jeffries and Espaillat have maintained a close political relationship that stretches back to their time serving together in the New York state Assembly before both were elected to the House.
Over the weekend, Jeffries made clear he was unhappy with Mamdani’s decision to weigh in on the contest.
“The mayor and I strongly disagree as it relates to the congressional races, particularly the endorsement that was made against Congressman Adriano Espaillat,” Jeffries said Saturday during an endorsement event for Espaillat at the Edison Hotel in Manhattan.
“We are fully and squarely behind [Espaillat], and we are going to make sure we do everything we can to ensure he is re-elected,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries, who would likely become the first black House speaker if Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives, also brought up gentrification, a sensitive issue in minority communities. His camp has previously claimed that DSA members are among the newcomers gentrifying city neighborhoods.
“Our communities are facing gentrification in the north and JimCrow-like tactics in the South,” he said.
He also said he doesn’t want residents who fought to improve the city during the crack epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s to be forced out as “victims of their own success.”
More importantly, Harlem elected officials — whose districts overlap with the up-for-grabs 13th House seat — could be important validators for Espaillat with black voters, and they showed up at the endorsement event.
The district includes Morningside Heights, Harlem, East Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood and parts of the western Bronx.
The Harlemites who talked up Espaillat were state Sen. Cordell Cleare, Assembly members Al Taylor and Jordan Wright and city Councilman Yusef Salaam.
Espaillat cross-endorsed Wright, the son of Manhattan Democratic leader and longtime Harlem power broker Keith Wright, who is also facing a DSA challenger.
Old black voters in central Harlem could impact the primary election if they turn out in force, to counter younger voters who connect with Chevalier.
The black leaders said it was important to maintain unity among black and Latino communities.
Espaillat, seeking a sixth term, is chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
“Adriano Espaillat is the man for the job. We don’t need outsiders,” said Cleare, citing the incumbent’s experience and knowledge of nitty-gritty community concerns.
For his part, Espaillat recalled reading the newspapers as a kid, when he was a Dominican immigrant learning English. He admired then-Harlem Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, who he called a “larger-than-life” figure.
“I’m no stranger to Harlem,” he said.
In a recent debate, Espaillat said he would “absolutely” support Jeffries as the first African-American speaker, while Avila Chevalier said she would discuss the choice later after consulting with constituents.
Brooklyn Rep. Yvette Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Queens Congressman Gregory Meeks also stood with fellow House member Espaillat.
