New York City democratic socialists, particularly those belonging to the NYC-DSA's influential Groundwork Caucus, are kicking around the possibility that if Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez runs for president in 2028, as many expect her to do, New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé could run for U.S. Senate.
Last year, Ossé joined the DSA and filed paperwork to primary House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whose Brooklyn district overlaps with his. But Mayor Zohran Mamdani intervened to stop the effort, speaking personally at a DSA meeting to discourage what he thought would be a costly and distracting race that could imperil progress during his first year as New York City mayor. The organization eventually voted not to back Ossé.
Seven months later, two DSA congressional candidates won their primaries, including Darializa Avila Chevalier, who unseated Rep. Adriano Espaillat, the powerful head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. After that decisive showing, DSA co-chair Gustavo Gordillo tweeted simply: "Chi would have won."