Chi Osse Credit: Emil Cohen:NYC Council Media Unit
According to NYC Newswire, the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has voted not to endorse Council Member Chi Ossé in his Democratic primary challenge against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in New York’s 8th Congressional District. Members were notified of the decision in an internal email sent Saturday night.
The email to members stated, “Given that Council Member Ossé failed to win support for a recommendation of endorsement from a majority of voting members, the Electoral Working Group OC does not make a recommendation for endorsement at this time.”
DSA reported that 52 percent of voting members opposed endorsing Ossé, with the remaining members either supporting the endorsement or abstaining. The narrow margin underscored how divided the membership was on the issue, and shows what some believe to be the first crack in the unified culture of the DSA in New York City.
Mamdani Advised Members to Hold Back on an Endorsement
In the days leading up to the vote, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani sent a message to DSA members urging them not to endorse Ossé. Mamdani argued that the organization should refrain from engaging in the NY-08 primary and instead continue prioritizing affordability, which was a central theme in his recent mayoral campaign.
Member Concerns and Internal Discussions Shaped the Outcome
Debate among members took place throughout the week, both online and internally. Several DSA members were critical of Jeffries, pointing to the millions of dollars he has received from AIPAC and noting that he did not endorse Mamdani until the night before early voting began during Mamdani’s mayoral run.
At the same time, some members raised questions about Ossé’s relationship to the organization. During internal conversations, members noted that Ossé became a dues-paying DSA member only this past summer, during Mamdani’s campaign, which led to concerns about his long-term alignment with DSA’s mission and priorities.
Implications for the NY-08 Congressional Race
With the vote concluded, Ossé continues his challenge to Jeffries without the support of DSA, a group that has played a significant role in recent New York elections. Jeffries retains the advantages of incumbency, while Ossé proceeds without the organizational boost an endorsement would have provided.
DSA has not issued any further public comment beyond confirming the results of the vote. Neither the Ossé campaign nor Jeffries’ office has released additional statements regarding the organization’s decision.
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