Latest news with #primaryChallenges
Fox News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Mamdani's far-left allies aim to primary Hakeem Jeffries and other NYC House Democrats
Zohran Mamdani's democratic socialist allies may be eyeing primary challenges next year against some congressional Democrats in New York City, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. But a senior political advisor to Jeffries is promising that anyone who tries to oust the top Democrat in the House in next year's primaries will face a "forceful and unrelenting" response. Mamdani, the 33-year-old Ugandan-born democratic socialist assemblyman from Queens, sent political shock waves across the country with a convincing victory two weeks ago over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. And Mamdani took a big step toward becoming New York City's first Muslim mayor. In the wake of Mamdani's primary victory last month, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) highlighted that "this movement is bigger than one person, election, city, or organization." "We encourage all people inspired by the Zohran campaign to join their local DSA or YDSA chapter and get involved so we can continue to fight alongside Zohran and DSA elected officials across the country to create the future we all deserve," they added in a statement. Fast-forward to today, and DSA leaders are apparently mulling running primary challengers against Jeffries as well as other House Democrats whose districts are in New York City, including Reps. Ritchie Torres, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman and Yvette Clarke. Jeffries, who two years ago succeeded longtime House Democratic leader and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been criticized by some of New York City's far-left leaders as a moderate and establishment Democrat. "His leadership has left a vacuum that organizations like DSA are filling. I think that is more important right now," New York City's Democratic Socialists of America chapter co-chair Gustavo Gordillo told CNN. Democratic socialist state Sen. Jabari Brisport, whose district includes some of the same areas of Brooklyn as Jeffries House district, argued in a statement to Fox News that the longtime congressman is "rapidly growing out of touch with an insurgent and growing progressive base within his own district that he should pay more attention to." Democratic strategist Andre Richardson, a top Jeffries political advisor, pointed to the sweeping and controversial moves by President Donald Trump during the opening months of his second tour of duty in the White House, and said, "Leader Hakeem Jeffries is focused on taking back the House from the MAGA extremists who just ripped health care away from millions of Americans." Richardson also warned in a statement to CNN that if those on the left mount a primary challenge against Jeffries, "our response will be forceful and unrelenting. We will teach them and all of their incumbents a painful lesson on June 23, 2026." Jeffries, when asked about a potential primary challenge in an interview Wednesday with CNN, responded that he had "no idea what these people are talking about." And Jeffries said he's focusing "on pushing back against the extremism that has been unleashed on the American people." Jeffries, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and some other top Democratic elected officials in New York have praised Mamdani's campaign. And while they've defended him from Trump's attacks, they have refrained, as of now, from endorsing the Democratic mayoral nominee. Mamdani surged to a primary victory thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City's high cost of living. He made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City's vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) "tuition-free," freezing rents on municipal housing, offering "free childcare" for children up to age 5, and setting up government-run grocery stores. Thanks in part to the efforts of a massive grassroots army of volunteers, Mamdani rode a wave of support from younger and progressive voters to catapult into first place over Cuomo, who had been the primary frontrunner. "I think it's clear that voters are prioritizing action over inaction, and not just incremental change but broad sweeping change," veteran Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo told Fox News Digital, when asked about what Mamdani's victory means for the party. And Caiazzo, a veteran of Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, said one reason for Mamdani's victory was that he tirelessly met "voters where they are."
Fox News
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
'We're ignoring him': GOP senators react to Musk's threat to primary supporters of Trump's 'beautiful' bill
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk threatened to support primary challenges of GOP senators who vote in favor of President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill," prompting pushback from some senators who spoke to Fox News Digital. "I'll take President Trump's endorsement over Elon's any day of the week back home," Kansas GOP Sen. Roger Marshall told Fox News Digital. "Look, we need to pass this bill because it helps fulfill President Trump's agenda. His priorities were to secure the border, bring back prosperity and security. I think if we do those things, if we bring back the prosperity and the security, we're going to get re-elected. Elon's continuing his little spat, we are ignoring him. Let's get this bill across the finish line." GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama told Fox News Digital that the "bottom line" is that "51 of us are going to vote for this tonight." "I saw some of the things he's upset over, the subsidies that we're cutting out of energy, you know, the wind and solar. He thinks that we need to do more with energy, and I agree with that, but we can't keep funding it through the federal government. We've got to go out there and do it the right way through private enterprise like he's done it." Missouri GOP Sen. Schmitt praised Musk's work at DOGE, saying he has a "ton of respect" for the former DOGE chief and said he should be congratulated for the "incredible thing" he did for the country, finding waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. "Everybody's entitled to their opinions," Schmitt said. GOP Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty told Fox News Digital that by the time primary elections come up in 2026, the country will "already be seeing the benefits of the bill." "We're going to see more growth and more tax benefits, more revenue benefits, I should say, so, I don't think that the doom and gloom being predicted by many is actually going to manifest itself," Hagerty explained. "In fact, I think we're opening the door to a new golden era, as President Trump likes to say." South Dakota GOP Sen. Jon Hoeven pushed back on the criticism that the bill would increase the deficit by arguing the deficit would be reduced via revenue growth and savings. "I think people understand that he, you know, didn't like the one big, beautiful bill," Hoeven said. "So I don't know that people have paid, you know, nearly as much attention to it this time around." Marshall, when asked if he thought Musk's primary threats would hurt Republicans in the midterms, said, "I haven't given it a second thought today." "It would be a big speed bump in certain states, in Kansas, probably not so much. I think President Trump was wildly popular in most of these states. I think we need to find a way to get Elon back on board. He's a smart person, brings a lot to our economy. Let's figure out how to bring Elon back into the fold here." Musk intensified his ongoing feud with Trump and his allies this week in a political warning to lawmakers that he would work to unseat them if they voted in support of Trump's bill. "Anyone who campaigned on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING, but continues to vote on the BIGGEST DEBT ceiling increase in HISTORY will see their face on this poster in the primary next year," Musk posted to X Monday evening. The message was accompanied by an image of Pinocchio sitting on fire and the caption, "LIAR Voted to increase America's DEBT by 5,000,000,000.00" "Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame! And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth," Musk declared in a post on X on Monday. On Tuesday morning, as the bill was being debated in the Senate, Trump warned that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a "monster that might have to go back and eat Elon." "DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn't that be terrible?" Trump told the media Tuesday morning as he departed for a trip to the Florida Everglades to visit a new migrant detention center. "He gets a lot of subsidies. But, Elon was very upset that the EV mandate is going to be terminated." His response followed a question regarding whether he would deport Musk, who is originally from South Africa. Trump responded, "I don't know, we'll have to take a look."
