House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Welcomes DSA‑Linked NYC Delegation

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D‑NY) publicly welcomed four newly elected New York City politicians who are affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America. The newcomers include state Assembly members Claire Valdez and Micah Lasher, and congressional candidates Darializa Avila Chevalier and Brad Lander. All but Lasher received backing from mayoral DSA figure Zohran Mamdani. Jeffries praised the incoming delegation, saying they must “decisively address the affordability crisis and crush far‑right extremism.”

The arrivals have drawn criticism from some Democrats who argue the DSA’s platform opposes prisons, ICE, and border enforcement, and view the move as a power shift within the party toward more radical progressive policies.