Former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Jaime Harrison, responded Tuesday night after the New York Democratic primaries resulted in the nominations of several progressive candidates endorsed by Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, including Brad Lander, who beat incumbent U.S. Representative Dan Goldman in a landslide.
Harrison, who chaired the Democratic Party during the Biden-Harris administration, didn’t name names but wrote on social media: “I say this with no ill will or animosity: if you hate the Democratic Party, then please don’t run for our nomination. Don’t use our resources. Don’t rely on our volunteers. Don’t use our infrastructure. Don’t ask Democrats to invest their time, money, and energy in your campaign. Focus on building the party you actually support. Political parties aren’t perfect, but they’re built by millions of people who knock doors, make calls, organize meetings, and fight for the values they believe in. If you don’t believe in the party, then don’t ask its members to carry you across the finish line.”
[NOTE: Many of the Mamdani-endorsed candidates ran on a promise to upend the Democratic status quo.]
I don’t know man, who is “the Democratic Party” if it’s not the voters?Democratic voters choose candidates, not party leaders. And party leaders need to listen to what voters are telling us – and right now they are demanding our party be bolder. https://t.co/4pNPJ2zkQl
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 24, 2026
Harrison added: “And let me be clear: I don’t care if you’re progressive, moderate, or conservative. I’ve worked with Democrats across the ideological spectrum. We didn’t always agree, but we understood that building a stronger Democratic Party was part of the job. If you hate the party, spend your days attacking it, and have contempt for all the people who make it possible, then see above.”
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) replied to Harrison: “I don’t know man, who is ‘the Democratic Party’ if it’s not the voters? Democratic voters choose candidates, not party leaders. And party leaders need to listen to what voters are telling us – and right now they are demanding our party be bolder.”
Democratic strategist Christopher Webb also responded to Harrison, saying: “I usually agree with your takes, but I don’t think we should be basing anything on single digit turnout in New York City. Or am I missing something?”
When asked “So voters shouldn’t choose?”, Webb replied, “Of course they chose tonight but data matters. 9% turnout is terrible. Hopefully it improves when we get the final numbers but this is an alarming sign.”
[NOTE: Voter turnout for the 2026 NYC Democratic primary was significantly lower than last year’s 30 percent turnout for the primary in which Mamdani defeated lifelong Democrat and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.]
