Mamdani freakout

Some Democrats in Congress are quietly worrying about their own reelections after democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani's shock upset over onetime establishment Democratic powerhouse Andrew Cuomo.

• "There's a lot of anxiety," a senior House Democrat told us on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive internal dynamics.

Why it matters: Potentially dozens of House Democrats are expected to face anti-establishment primary challenges.

• Progressive Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told us "there was a wake-up-call and a shot across the bow to the establishment and the old guard" with Mamdani's win.
• One senior House progressive told us: "I think you'll see about 30% of members face primary challenges. People have anxiety, rightfully so. Their hair is on fire."

What they're saying: "One thing I've heard at all my town [hall] meetings is that people want us to fight harder, and that may have been part of the reason why Mamdani won," said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.).

• "Yeah, the voters want us ... taking on the political establishment," said Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), who has repeatedly fended off primary challenges from the left.

The other side: Several House Democrats cautioned against over-extrapolating the mayoral results.

• "I love New York, but it's a very liberal place and I don't know that you can necessarily apply that to the rest of the country," said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.).

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– Andrew Solender