Khanna: Progressive movement is on the ascendancy after key primary wins

Key facts

• Rep. Ro Khanna believes the progressive movement is growing in strength.
• He pointed to recent primary victories in New York and other states as evidence.
• Khanna specifically mentioned the win of Claire Valdez in New York's 7th Congressional District.
• He also lauded New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as a significant political figure.

Representative Ro Khanna asserted that the "progressive movement is on the ascendancy" following a series of victories by left-wing candidates in recent primaries across the United States. Appearing on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins,” Khanna highlighted the projected win of New York Assemblywoman Claire Valdez, a democratic socialist supported by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, in the Democratic primary for New York’s 7th Congressional District.

Khanna described Valdez as a "phenomenal candidate" with a "clear moral vision on foreign policy" and an understanding of the need for a "new vision for the working class." He also emphasized the political significance of Mayor Mamdani, calling him a "star" and one of the "five most consequential Democrats in the nation right now." Khanna dismissed the notion that these successes are confined to specific regions, stating, "We’ve been winning in Pennsylvania, in New Jersey, in Michigan, in Maine, and this is really the — where the energy of the party is."

Mamdani, who gained national attention for defeating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in a mayoral primary, had backed three candidates in New York House primary contests. Both Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, also a democratic socialist endorsed by Mamdani, secured victories on Tuesday. Additionally, former mayoral candidate Brad Lander, another progressive supported by Mamdani, won his race.

These New York primary results follow Councilmember Janeese Lewis George's earlier win in the Democratic primary for mayor in Washington D.C. The rise of democratic socialism in the U.S. over the past decade has been notably influenced by Senator Bernie Sanders's presidential campaigns.