Rumors swirled across New York’s political circles this week as reports emerged that Chi Ossé, the youngest-ever New York City Council member and a prominent progressive voice, was considering a primary challenge against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in 2026. But by Thursday, Ossé himself had stepped forward to douse the speculation, insisting he had no intention of running for Congress—at least, not anytime soon.
The intrigue began on October 8, 2025, when Axios published a report citing three anonymous sources who claimed that Ossé, a 27-year-old openly gay councilman and key ally of Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, had privately discussed the possibility of facing off against Jeffries in the Democratic primary. According to Axios, Ossé had “spoken privately with progressive groups about potentially taking on Jeffries in the Democratic primary next year.” The report quickly set off a wave of speculation about a potential generational and ideological showdown within the Democratic Party’s Brooklyn stronghold.
Ossé, who first gained prominence as a Black Lives Matter activist and co-founder of the activist collective Warriors in the Garden, has become a rising star among New York City’s progressives. He was elected to the City Council in 2021 at just 23, making him the youngest person ever to hold the position and the only Gen-Z member currently serving, as highlighted by Daily Caller News Foundation. His activism, especially around police reform—he once posted, “We’re going to defund the NYPD. THE POLICE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS”—and his vibrant social media presence, have made him a household name among the city’s left-leaning youth.
Ossé’s alliance with Zohran Mamdani, the self-described socialist and Democratic nominee for mayor, has only strengthened his progressive credentials. On April 21, 2025, Ossé endorsed Mamdani, declaring on Instagram that the city needed a mayor with “an inspirational vision of the most our city can be.” He also spoke at a campaign rally for Mamdani in May, further cementing his role as a key player in the city’s leftward shift. Mamdani, for his part, has openly cited Ossé—as well as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—as inspirations for his campaign strategy, telling Vulture in June that they “showed me the power of communication without an intermediary.”
Yet, despite the buzz, Ossé wasted little time in quashing the rumors. In a text message to Axios on October 8, he wrote, “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,” before clarifying, “Just to be clear, I’m not running for Congress.” He reiterated his lack of interest in leaving New York for the nation’s capital, telling New York Daily News that he has “little interest in leaving New York for a position on the national political stage.”
The swirl of speculation, however, has exposed deeper rifts within the Democratic Party—rifts that have only grown in the aftermath of the 2024 election cycle. According to Axios, the prospect of an Ossé challenge “could drive a further wedge” between Mamdani, who has rattled the Democratic establishment, and Jeffries, who has so far declined to endorse the democratic socialist in the mayoral race. Some Democrats, Axios noted, have been left in “absolute panic and fear” following Mamdani’s primary victory, torn between endorsing a candidate whom many privately call “toxic” and risking their own political futures if they stay silent.
For Jeffries, the possibility of a challenge from the left is not entirely new. The House Democratic leader, who would become the first Black Speaker of the House if Democrats reclaim the majority, has faced mounting pressure from the party’s progressive wing. Critics have pointed out that Mamdani handily defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo—now running as an independent—in Jeffries’ own district, suggesting fertile ground for a progressive insurgency. Still, as New York Daily News observed, “there are few signs that Jeffries, who would be in line to be the first Black speaker of the House if Democrats win back the House, is in any serious political danger.”
The Axios report also revealed the hardball tactics at play. Jeffries’ team reportedly issued a “smashmouth warning” to would-be challengers, threatening to target democratic socialists in the state legislature if they go after his congressional seat. An adviser to Jeffries even dismissed the progressive challengers as “Team Gentrification,” underscoring the tense rhetoric that has come to define the party’s internal battles.
Meanwhile, the broader context for these tensions is a Democratic Party grappling with internal strife. As Axios pointed out, the party has been “beset by financial troubles, bitter infighting, and sinking approval ratings.” The generational and ideological divides have become increasingly pronounced, with younger, left-leaning members eager to challenge the establishment and push the party further left on issues ranging from housing to policing.
Ossé’s own political trajectory is emblematic of this new wave. His legislative win with the FARE Act, which eliminated broker fees for renters, has been lauded by progressives as a tangible victory for working-class New Yorkers. His unapologetic stance on social issues—he once posted a photo of himself dressed as Santa Claus, writing, “Black gay Santa is a Republican’s worst nightmare”—and his willingness to call out Republicans (“Republicans don’t give a shit about Americans,” he posted on March 2, 2025) have made him a lightning rod for both praise and criticism.
Yet, for all the noise, Ossé’s decision to stay put in New York suggests a pragmatic understanding of the political landscape. As one unnamed Mamdani official told Axios after the report broke, “This ain’t us.” The episode, however, has served as a vivid reminder of the hunger among the Democratic Party’s younger base to shake up the status quo and demand more from their leaders.
As the city’s mayoral race barrels toward its conclusion, with Mamdani holding a commanding lead in the polls over Republican Curtis Sliwa and independent Andrew Cuomo, the spotlight remains fixed on the evolving dynamics within the Democratic Party. Whether or not Ossé ever makes the leap to Congress, his influence—and that of the movement he represents—shows no sign of waning.
For now, the message from Brooklyn is clear: the next generation of Democratic leaders may not be ready to storm Washington just yet, but they’re making their voices heard—and reshaping the party in the process.
