Scoop: Mamdani ally weighs challenging Hakeem Jeffries
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Chi Ossé at a New York City Council meeting last year. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
New York City Council member Chi Ossé, a close ally of Zohran Mamdani, is privately discussing a run against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), three people familiar with the discussions tell Axios.
Why it matters: Just talking about a potential campaign could drive a further wedge between Mamdani — the democratic socialist in line to be New York's next mayor — and Jeffries, who so far has declined to endorse Mamdani.
- Ossé enters the picture as Mamdani is trying to assuage some Democrats' concerns about his mayoral campaign against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who's running as an independent.
- Ossé, 27, has a ubiquitous social media presence that Mamdani has cited as a major influence. Any effort by Ossé to unseat Jeffries — one of the most powerful Democrats in the nation — likely would deepen the divide within the Democratic Party over age and ideology.
Behind the scenes: Ossé, who backed Mamdani in the mayoral primary and headlined a rally and canvass efforts for him, has spoken privately with progressive groups about potentially taking on Jeffries in the Democratic primary next year, the sources said.
- The discussions are in the beginning stages, but some organizations have expressed interest in an insurgent campaign.
- Progressives have eyed challenging Jeffries in the past but haven't had a potential candidate to rally behind.
- Another possible contender whose name was floated among progressives, state Sen. Jabari Brisport, ruled out a run.
What's driving the news: Progressives see an opening to potentially knock off Jeffries, 55, after Mamdani won his congressional district in New York's mayoral primary. Many are frustrated that Jeffries hasn't yet endorsed Mamdani over Cuomo, and that he's criticized some of Mamdani's rhetoric about Israel.
- Jeffries' team has already issued a smashmouth warning to his would-be opponents, threatening to target democratic socialists in the state legislature if they go after his congressional seat.
Zoom in: Some progressives think Ossé, a former Black Lives Matter activist whose direct-to-camera videos on social media have attracted millions of views, could put up a fight against Jeffries in the minority leader's Brooklyn district.
- Referring to Ossé and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Mamdani said this year: "They showed me the power of communication without an intermediary, because ultimately our campaign is about having a politics of no translation."
- On the City Council, Ossé notched a legislative victory when his FARE Act eliminating broker fees for renters became law last year.
- Ossé is a darling of progressive media. The New Yorker has featured his living room, GQ has showcased his personal style, and New York magazine highlighted his "Why Sh*t Not Working" web series on city problems.
Zoom out: The Democratic base's frustration with its leaders in the wake of the party's 2024 losses has emboldened progressives to take on more of their party's incumbents and establishment picks in congressional races.
- 62% percent of Democrats want new leadership, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll in June.
- Several younger Democrats have launched campaigns against older House members as a heated debate over generational change has roiled the party.
- Progressive groups such as Justice Democrats have backed challengers to sitting Democrats this cycle after mostly playing defense last year.
Jeffries aides and other establishment Democrats have rolled their eyes at such efforts. An adviser to Jeffries coined a phrase for those considering a run against him: "Team Gentrification."
- The influential radio host Charlamagne tha God later called Jeffries "AIPAC Shakur," a reference to the minority leader's support of Israel.
What they're saying: "Leader Jeffries is focused on battling Donald Trump, ending the Republican shutdown of the federal government and addressing the crushing GOP healthcare crisis," Jeffries spokesperson Justin Chermol said.
- After Axios repeatedly tried to reach Ossé Tuesday and Wednesday, Ossé said in a text message late Wednesday: "All I have to say is that it would take a very dire situation in order for me to even consider spending the rest of my 20s in dc."
- Ossé then sent a text 20 minutes later: "Just to be clear, I'm not running for Congress."
- Mamdani's campaign initially didn't comment for this story. After publication, a Mamdani official who declined to go on the record told Axios, "This ain't us."
Reality check: Some Democrats who have spoken with Ossé are skeptical he'll pull the trigger on a run for Congress partly because he's wary of Washington, D.C. Jeffries also controls a powerful political machine in his district and Ossé might not want to risk an embarrassing loss.
- Some progressives also worry that a bid against Jeffries would distract from more winnable primary races in New York and elsewhere.
- On the other hand, Ossé could make a bid for Jeffries' seat and not lose his City Council position because New York City doesn't have a resign-to-run rule.
