Should the Left Primary Hakeem Jeffries?
In a controversial turn of events, New York City Council member Chi Ossé will not challenge Representative Hakeem Jeffries in the 2026 Democratic primary, despite earlier considerations and the support of some. This decision followed intervention from Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, influencing a narrow vote against Ossé’s candidacy at a Democratic Socialists of America forum. The article argues that Jeffries is a weak leader with problematic stances on key issues and a record of suppressing socialist candidates, and that the lack of a primary challenge will be to the detriment of the public. Ultimately, the article posits that even if a challenger is not victorious, a primary election is a valuable exercise for socialists.
John Q. Hosedrinker