Several prominent Democratic incumbents are facing serious primary challenges heading into the November midterm elections, with anti-establishment candidates from the left flank of the party mounting insurgent campaigns against sitting lawmakers who have served for decades.
The races involve Representatives Dan Goldman of New York, Adriano Espaillat of New York, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida—all members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The contests reflect broader tensions within the Democratic Party over generational change, Israel policy, and the direction of progressive politics.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive challengers argue that sitting incumbents have failed to deliver on key campaign promises and represent outdated politics. Brad Lander, who is challenging Rep. Goldman in New York's 10th Congressional District, has the backing of left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Mayor Aftab Purela's political operation.
Lander has sharply criticized Goldman's ties to AIPAC and his votes to supply Israel with military aid. "The incumbent has been wrong on Gaza from the start," Lander said at a recent campaign event. He has labeled Israel's war in Gaza a "genocide"—a term Goldman has distanced himself from.
In New York's 13th Congressional District, socialist activist Darializa Avila Chevalier, 32, is challenging Rep. Espaillat with an endorsement from mayoral candidate Zorg. Avila Chevalier has called for open borders and abolishing the police, positions she says reflect the values of the district's progressive base.
Progressive groups argue that incumbents like Wasserman Schultz have been too willing to compromise with establishment interests. "Voters want representatives who will fight, not negotiate away our values," said a spokesperson for the Working Families Party, which is backing several insurgent campaigns.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican strategists are watching the Democratic primaries closely, arguing that if any of these challengers win, they represent electoral vulnerabilities in November. "These far-left candidates would be toxic in competitive districts," said one Republican strategist familiar with the races.
Conservative commentators have noted that while Goldman and Espaillat are themselves progressive members of Congress, their challengers are running further to the left on issues including Israel policy and criminal justice. Some have suggested this represents a Democratic Party moving away from electable positions.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who lost his primary to a challenger backed by former President Donald Trump's allies, offered a different perspective. "Anti-incumbent fever isn't partisan—it's about accountability," Massie wrote on social media.
In Florida, Republicans have already begun targeting Wasserman Schultz's redistricted seat in potential general election matchups, arguing that the 11-term incumbent faces her toughest fight yet after district lines were redrawn earlier this year.
What the Numbers Show
Four incumbents—two Democrats and two Republicans—have already lost primary races this cycle, a rate that exceeds historical averages. According to data from the Associated Press, primary challenges against sitting House members succeeded in 8 of 147 cases during the previous midterm election cycle.
In New York's 10th Congressional District race, recent polling shows Lander with a significant lead over Goldman despite being significantly outspent. Goldman, one of the wealthiest members of Congress according to personal financial disclosures, has spent more than $2 million on his campaign compared to Lander's approximately $800,000.
The district covers Lower Manhattan and portions of Brooklyn—territories that voted for Trump in 2024 by a margin of roughly 15 points, suggesting both candidates would face competitive general elections if nominated. Espaillat's New York 13th District includes parts of Upper Manhattan and the West Bronx, areas that backed Democratic candidates by margins exceeding 70 percent in recent elections.
Wasserman Schultz's new district has been carved to include a majority-Black electorate—raising questions about whether she can retain a seat designed for representation by a Black lawmaker after more than three decades of service under previous district lines.
The Bottom Line
The primary races represent a test of the Democratic Party's direction heading into November, with progressive challengers arguing that incumbents have not gone far enough on key issues while establishment-aligned candidates counter that electability requires broader coalition-building. The outcomes could determine whether the party nominates candidates who prioritize progressive purity or electoral pragmatism.
All three races feature Jewish candidates confronting questions about Israel policy—a reflection of how the Gaza conflict has reshaped Democratic Party politics. What remains unclear is whether these primary results will strengthen or weaken Democratic chances in November general elections.