Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani took a chance when he publicly backed a group of congressional candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, even issuing endorsements against Democratic incumbents running for re-election, but as the dust settles on this week’s primaries, the gamble paid off in impressive fashion.

In New York’s 10th District, former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Goldman in a Democratic primary; in New York’s 13th District, pro-Palestinian activist Darializa Avila Chevalier narrowly defeated Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat in a Democratic primary; and in New York’s 7th District, Claire Valdez, a democratic socialist state assemblywoman from Queens, won the primary to succeed retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez.

There were some questions going into this week as to whether the mayor could play the role of “kingmaker” in New York City. Those questions appear to have been answered in an unambiguous way.

* Last year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Nancy Lacore, a three-star admiral and former chief of the Navy Reserve. This year, Lacore is running for Congress as a Democrat in South Carolina, and this week, she won a primary runoff in the race to succeed failed gubernatorial candidate Nancy Mace.

* Speaking of South Carolina, state Attorney General Alan Wilson easily won the Republicans’ gubernatorial primary runoff, dispatching Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Trump had initially endorsed Evette before hedging his bets and backing both candidates in the same race.

* It wasn’t easy, but incumbent Rep. April McClain Delaney of Maryland held off a fierce primary challenge from the Democrat who held her seat before she did, former Rep. David Trone, who lent himself $25 million in an effort to reclaim his old job.

* In Texas’ closely watched Senate race, the latest University of Texas poll found Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton with the narrowest of leads over Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, 43% to 42%. A previous survey from the same pollster showed Talarico ahead, but the scandal-plagued Republican has since consolidated support from GOP voters.

* And in Alaska’s closely watched Senate race, state election officials recently ruled that a man named Dan J. Sullivan cannot run against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, but this week, the retired teacher filed suit, challenging the decision from the Alaska Division of Elections.

The post Wednesday’s Campaign Round-Up, 6.24.26: Mamdani plays kingmaker in N.Y. primaries appeared first on MS NOW.

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