Networks Gloss Over Radical Socialist Candidates, Hype Mamdani 'Sweep' of NYC Congressional Primaries

Jorge Bonilla
June 25th, 2026 12:17 AM

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The Elitist Media evening news finally came around to covering the heated New York City congressional primaries, wherein Mayor Zohran Mamdani backed challengers to two incumbents, and against the hand-picked successor of another retiring congresswoman. And nowhere to be found is any reporting on the extreme positions taken by these candidates.

Here’s how ABC World News Tonight covered the primary, in an extended brief:

DAVID MUIR: In New York City tonight, the political shockwaves after high-stakes primaries here, the candidate, supported by Mayor Zohran Mamdani winning. Here's Jay O'Brien.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI: Good evening, everyone.

JAY O’BRIEN: Tonight, a political earthquake in New York sending a national message about voters eager for change and focused on the rising cost of living. Three Democratic congressional candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, winning their primaries, defeating candidates favored by the nation's top Democrats, including two sitting members of Congress.

MAMDANI: My goal is to make America a place that every American can afford. (VIDEO SWIPE) I know it's an issue that every working person across the country is facing, and what we need is a politics that puts working people back at the heart of what we focus on and what we fight for, as opposed to making them a footnote.

O’BRIEN: Two Democratic Socialists, Darializa Avila-Chevalier and Claire Valdez now likely headed to Congress. So is former city Comptroller Brad Lander, who defeated Congressman Dan Goldman by emphasizing Goldman's support for Israel, another flashpoint in these races. And David, the big question tonight is will these results have a ripple effect come November? And if so, who will benefit? President Trump already trying to put his stamp on all of this, branding the winners as “communists”, David.

MUIR: Jay O’Brien, live at the Capitol tonight. Jay, thanks.

Jay O’Brien’s focus is on a triumphant Mamdani. There is no mention whatsoever of the extreme positions taken by the primary challengers. The only mention of Israel, for example, is as referenced in the Lander-Goldman race. But there is no mention of Darializa Avila-Chevalier’s statements on Israel-Gaza, or on her role in the violent protests at Columbia University. All of that was swept under the rug. The report closes out with a complaint that the mean Donald Trump referred to the communists as “communists.” A classic Trumpwash.

Things weren’t that much different on the CBS Evening News. Here is that report in its entirety.

TONY DOKOUPIL: We now turn to a big night for the Mayor of New York City who endorsed three far-left candidates for congress and all three won, raising questions about the future of the Democratic Party, even as Trump-backed candidates had a good showing as well. Here's our Senior White House Correspondent, Ed O'Keefe.

ED O’KEEFE: He’s mayor of New York, but Zohran Mamdani is now also a kingmaker.

ZOHRAN MAMDANI: We are showing there is a new path for politics in our city and in our country.

O’KEEFE: In defiance of other party leaders, the mayor recruited a slate of like-minded Progressives or Democratic Socialist congressional candidates, and dropped this ad during the New York Knicks’ championship run.

BRAD LANDER: I'm Brad Lander and I‘ll block billionaires from buying our elections.

DARIALIZA AVILA-CHEVALIER: I'm Darializa Avila-Chevalier and I will defend New York by abolishing ICE.

CLAIRE VALDEZ: I'm Claire Valdez and I‘ll stand up against bad landlords and greedy corporations.

O’KEEFE: It worked. Brad Lander defeated Congressman Dan Goldman, who earned national attention for managing the first Trump impeachment trial. And 32-year-old PhD student, Darializa Avila-Chevalier defeated Adriano Espaillat, Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. All three candidates are critical of Israel.

LANDER: I will be one of the Jewish members of Congress most willing to stand up loud for Palestinian human rights, freedom and dignity. (VIDEO SWIPE) And I will stand firmly against bigotry aimed at Jews.

O’KEEFE: As for Republicans, President Trump's near-perfect record of picking primary candidates continued, in part because in South Carolina gubernatorial runoff he endorsed both contenders and Attorney General Alan Wilson won.

DOKOUPIL: All right Ed, back to these big results in New York here, what do they tell us about the state of the Democratic Party?

O’KEEFE: Well, in New York City it says Mayor Mamdani has a grip on city politics and how New York City Democrats vote in city congressional primaries. But more broadly, it signals Democrats are looking for change and change looks different in various parts of the country. Just 40 minutes north of the city for example, Democrats chose Cait Conley to run in one of the most competitive contests this year. Her national security background mirrors that of many other Democrats who’ve won contests in recent years, and moderates also won in Maryland and Utah. None of them said anything about socialism. Tony?

DOKOUPIL: Yeah, but that said, a lot of incumbents are losing primaries, it seems to me, is this normal?

O’KEEFE: It is a little more in recent years, certainly at the primary season point of an election year. And in the case of Republicans, it’s because they lost the support of President Trump. For the Democrats, it is because of either redistricting, having lost their seats in contests against fellow Democrats, or, as we saw last night, because voters are looking for someone new. Tony.

DOKOUPIL: All right Ed, thank you very much.

The report is almost identical to ABC’s, albeit lengthier, because it included a quick recap of the South Carolina gubernatorial primary. Additionally, the report played a big chunk of a Mamdani ad promoting his congressional slate which piggybacked on the Knicks’ playoff run. 

In substance, though, the report was the same. No mention of any of the candidates’ radical histories or roles in the Hamas-adjacent protests at Columbia and elsewhere. Same formula as ABC- Mamdani, candidate fluff, and Trump. More of the same on NBC Nightly News:

HALLIE JACKSON: In New York, political shockwaves after big wins for the city's mayor in key primaries there, with questions now on whether Democrats in other places can replicate the progressive victories. Sam Brock is joining us now and Sam, all three of the candidates Zohran Mamdani endorsed won last night.

SAM BROCK: Hallie, good evening. It was a clean sweep and it appears that Mayor Mamdani has the Midas touch when it comes to backing progressive candidates that challenged establishment Democrats. The mayor's three choices sweeping the field, with two candidates knocking off incumbents. That includes Brad Lander, who beat veteran Congressman Dal Goldman by about 30 points- that is a landslide that few saw coming. The takeaways tonight, Hallie, Democratic candidates who voiced strong criticism of Israel did well and that Democratic Socialism is expanding in deep blue New York here. But Republicans argue those candidates are too liberal to win in swing districts. President Trump weighing in tonight, saying if the 2028 Democratic nominee is a Democratic Socialist, it’s going to help the GOP. Hallie.

JACKSON; Sam Brock, thank you.

NBC took a similar approach: glaze Mamdani, deflect on virulent antisemitism by redirecting to Lander, and throw Trump in at the end. As was the case with the rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez eight years ago, the Elitist Media aided and abetted the election of Democratic Socialists. 

Time has shown that the media does the exact opposite to what we see above when faced with conservative candidates. Rather than concealing their positions or rhetoric, they cast those in the worst possible light. We are reminded yet again that were it not for double standards, there would be none at all.

 

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