Socialist city councilman to primary Hakeem Jeffries—AOC says it's not a 'good idea'

Socialist New York City councilman Chi Osse has filed to run a primary challenge against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) for the seat based in Brooklyn. The 27-year-old councilman had previously said it would take a "dire situation" for him to run against the sitting congressman, and it did not seem to be he would launch a primary challenge. Progressive politicians such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have said it isn't a "good idea."

On Monday, he wrote on X, "Seems like we're in a dire situation," when he was asked about the reversal. There had been media reports about him considering the move leading up to his filing, which he formally submitted on Monday.

The statement of organization points to Paul Spring as Osse's treasurer, who was also Osse's treasurer for his run for the city council. Jeffries has represented New York's 8th Congressional District since 2013 and is more moderate in his positions than Osse. The primary challenger is also the Big Apple's youngest city council member.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Osse's previous job experience before winning an election bid for city council consisted of 2 years of marketing and content creation experience, as well as a little under a year of social media experience. Other than that, he got his political career started as an activist in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and was elected to the city council at 23 years old. Osse has also been a close ally to NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and Osse appeared alongside Mamdani during the socialist candidate's campaign. Both also have roots in the Democratic Socialists of America organization.

However, Mamdani had reportedly urged Osse not to launch a primary challenge against Jeffries, per the New York Daily News, and Osse was not at Mamdani's victory party in New York. "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," Mamdani said in a statement after Osse filed for the challenge.

Other progressive politicians, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) have similarly distanced themselves from Osse, perhaps over his primary challenge of Jeffries, per Axios. She said she was "not aware" that Osse was launching the primary bid. "But I certainly don't think a primary challenge to the leader is a good idea right now," she added.