In a move that has sent shockwaves through New York’s political circles, Brooklyn City Councilman Chi Ossé has officially launched a primary challenge against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the highest-ranking Democrat in Congress. The 27-year-old councilman—once seen as a rising star in the city’s progressive movement—filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on November 17, 2025, setting the stage for a high-profile contest in New York’s 8th Congressional District.
Ossé’s decision comes after months of speculation and internal debate among the city’s left-leaning power players. Just weeks earlier, Ossé had dismissed rumors of a run, telling reporters it would take a “dire situation” for him to consider leaving his council seat for Congress. But as he wrote on social media Monday, “Seems like we’re in a dire situation,” signaling a dramatic change of heart and intent to take on one of the most powerful Democrats in the country.
According to The New York Daily News, Ossé’s challenge has stirred controversy within the city’s progressive ranks. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, himself a prominent figure in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), reportedly urged Ossé not to run, preferring to focus on advancing his own ambitious $10 billion first-year agenda for New York City. Mamdani told Axios on November 18, “While I appreciate the great work that Councilmember Ossé has done on the council, especially for tenants, I believe that there are many ways right here in New York City to both deliver on an affordability agenda and take on the authoritarian administration in the White House.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another progressive heavyweight, echoed Mamdani’s reservations. Speaking to Axios, she said, “I certainly don’t think a primary challenge to the leader is a good thing right now.” The timing of Ossé’s campaign, coming just after Mamdani’s mayoral victory and House Democrats’ united front during a recent government shutdown, has left some on the left wary that internecine conflict could weaken their broader agenda.
Despite the pushback, Ossé has pressed ahead, positioning himself as a champion of unapologetic socialism. In a statement to Axios, he declared, “The Democratic Party’s leadership is not only failing to effectively fight back against Donald Trump, they have also failed to deliver a vision that we can all believe in.” He has also made clear in interviews and DSA questionnaires that he supports increasing taxes on individuals earning more than $350,000 annually—staking out a position even further to the left than Mamdani, who has called for tax hikes on those making over $1 million.
Ossé’s campaign has not only highlighted generational and ideological rifts within the Democratic Party, but also personal ones. The councilman, who represents parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, was notably absent from Mamdani’s victory party on November 4, 2025, signaling a possible cooling of relations between the two allies. According to The New York Times, Mamdani’s concerns are not just about party unity, but also about his ability to secure support from establishment Democrats for his citywide affordability initiatives.
Meanwhile, the DSA itself appears divided over Ossé’s run. While he rejoined the organization over the summer after Mamdani’s electoral win, some factions within the DSA have argued that energy should be focused on enacting Mamdani’s agenda rather than mounting a challenge to Jeffries. A member of the DSA’s Socialist Majority caucus even published an op-ed this week urging against Ossé’s campaign, and Ossé himself acknowledged in a DSA questionnaire that he would not run without the group’s endorsement. “I hope NYC-DSA will be my first endorsement, because I can’t run this race without the organization,” he wrote.
Ossé’s political journey has not been without its awkward moments. As The New York Daily News reported on November 19, he has repeatedly cited Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign as a formative influence, claiming in both interviews and social media posts that it was the first election he voted in. However, voting records show he was not registered in time for the 2016 primary and did not cast a ballot in that year’s general election. When confronted with the discrepancy, Ossé clarified, “I was a strong supporter of Bernie and thought I voted for him,” and added with a touch of humor, “Maybe the Russian stole my vote lol.” He later explained that his first actual vote was in the 2018 gubernatorial election, where he wrote in actress Cynthia Nixon’s name.
Jeffries, 55, has represented the 8th District since 2013 and has rarely faced primary opposition, running unopposed in five of his last seven races. His district remains solidly Democratic—last year, he secured a seventh term by a margin of 51 points, and in 2020, Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district by 44 points. Jeffries’ campaign has responded to Ossé’s challenge with a tone of confident welcome. Spokesperson Justin Chermol told Axios, “Leader Jeffries is fighting hard to lower the high cost of living, address the Republican healthcare crisis, combat corruption and win back control of the House for the good of the country. We welcome this primary challenge and look forward to a rigorous debate about the type of serious leadership required to deliver for the people of Brooklyn and the nation.”
The contest is not just about personalities or policy differences—it’s about the future direction of the Democratic Party in New York and beyond. Some DSA members and local progressives see the challenge as a chance to push the party further left, while others fear it could fracture the coalition needed to advance progressive priorities at both the city and federal levels. As Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told Politico, “Especially at this moment, just after Mamdani’s big victory and House Democrats holding firm during the shutdown fight, it is not the right moment to launch a primary challenge to Hakeem Jeffries.”
Ossé’s record as a councilman includes organizing against police brutality, advocating for tenant rights, and successfully pushing for legislation to curb broker fees for renters. He was first elected at age 23 in 2021, quickly gaining a reputation as one of the council’s most progressive members. His campaign for Congress, however, now faces not only the formidable political machine of Jeffries but also skepticism from erstwhile allies and the progressive establishment.
With the DSA yet to formally endorse his campaign and local left-wing leaders urging caution, Ossé’s insurgent bid could either galvanize a new wave of progressive activism or expose rifts that weaken the movement’s influence. The coming months will test not only his political mettle, but also the unity and direction of New York’s left as it grapples with questions of strategy, timing, and the balance between idealism and pragmatism.
As the race heats up, all eyes are on Brooklyn to see whether Ossé’s challenge will spark the tidal wave of change he envisions—or simply leave the city’s progressive forces treading water.
