AOC rejects Chi Osse primary challenge against Democratic leader Jeffries

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is distancing herself from far-left efforts before House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries this week.

Ocasio-Cortez’s comments came after New York City Councilman Che Osei, who is close to New York City Mayor-elect Zahran Mamdani, announced an attempt to unseat Jeffries in the 2026 primary. The New York City lawmaker initially told reporters she was “not aware” of challenging Osei.

She hastened to add: “But I certainly don’t think a fundamental challenge to the leader is a good idea right now.”

Even Mamdani himself made a reserved statement when asked about Osei’s efforts, despite both being members of the Democratic Socialists of America.

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“I think there are many ways here in New York City to implement the affordability agenda and confront the authoritarian administration in the White House,” Mamdani told reporters on Monday.

The New York Post reported last week that Mamdani urged Oseh not to challenge the Democratic House leader.

His campaign represents a direct challenge to the old guard of the Democratic Party establishment from the party’s young progressive wing, and comes as Democrats are thriving after Mamdani’s success in New York City and gubernatorial victories in New Jersey and Virginia.

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Mayor-elect Zahran Mamdani appears to be dissuading his fellow Democratic Socialist from trying to unseat Hakeem Jeffries. ((Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP) (Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images))

Jeffries was reluctant to endorse Mamdani’s mayoral campaign after the socialist shocked the political establishment when he secured the Democratic nomination in June. Four months later, Jefferies finally offered Mamdani an endorsement 11 hours before early voting.

New York’s 8th Congressional District covers part of Brooklyn. Ossé currently represents the Bedford-Stuyvesant and North Crown Heights neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

He began his career in politics as an organizer during the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement and was elected to the City Council in 2021 at the age of 23, becoming the council’s youngest member and the first member of Generation Z.

Chi Osei, a New York City Council member, has filed to challenge Hakeem Jeffries in the Democratic primary. (Christian Monterrosa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ossé has filed an organizational statement for “Chi Osse for congress,” through Katz Compliance, a political campaign finance provider. No official statement was issued announcing his candidacy.

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But in response to criticism that he said last month: “It would take a very bad situation for me to consider spending the rest of my 20s in D.C. Just to be clear, I am not running for Congress,” Ossé wrote on Channel X on Monday afternoon that “it seems like we’re in a terrible situation.”

Fox News’ Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.