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Chi Ossé Withdraws Challenge To House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries After DSA Snub

09:11 AM, 12/06/2025
Chi Ossé Withdraws Challenge To House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries After DSA Snub

New York City councilmember Chi Ossé announced he will not pursue a primary challenge to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries after failing to secure endorsement from the Democratic Socialists of America. Ossé, 27, had filed paperwork last month and initially vowed to stay in the race but withdrew following the DSA vote and limited backing from progressive leaders. With Ossé out, Jeffries — a seven-term incumbent who won his last race with about 75% of the vote — faces little organized left-wing opposition.

Chi Ossé Drops Bid To Challenge Hakeem Jeffries

Chi Ossé, a 27-year-old New York City councilmember and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), announced Friday that he will not pursue a primary challenge to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries for Brooklyn's 8th Congressional District.

Ossé said he would only launch a full campaign with the DSA's endorsement, which the group declined to provide after a late-month vote. He said, "Exploring the possibility of this run was important. As committed, I will not be launching this campaign without the support of the DSA, and so the exploration process has concluded."

The decision follows a short-lived effort: Ossé filed paperwork to run last month and initially vowed on X that he would remain in the race, posting "IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE." But the DSA's refusal to endorse him, combined with limited backing from influential progressives and city leaders, weakened his path forward.

Progressive figures including Zohran Mamdani — who argued against endorsing Ossé at a DSA forum — and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez publicly declined to support the challenge, further undercutting momentum and likely grassroots resources.

Ossé framed any potential bid as an effort to inject new energy into Democratic resistance to former President Donald Trump and to unseat Jeffries. Jeffries, a seven-term incumbent and the top House Democrat, has rarely faced serious primary opposition and won his most recent election with roughly 75% of the vote.

With Ossé stepping back, Jeffries remains the dominant figure in the race and is now positioned as the likely favorite in the next Democratic primary.

Why It Matters: The DSA's endorsement often signals organized progressive support, including volunteers and small-dollar donors. Without it, a young challenger faces a steep uphill climb against an entrenched incumbent like Jeffries.

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