Far-left New York City Councilman Chi Ossé is reportedly laying the groundwork for a primary challenge against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) in 2026.
The move could set up a potential intraparty fight against one of the most powerful Democrats in the country.
According to The New York Times, Ossé, a radical Left extremist, has privately told political allies he intends to run and has begun speaking with Democratic Party figures across the city about launching a formal campaign in the coming weeks.
The reporting cites two anonymous sources familiar with the conversations.
Ossé, 27, is a close political ally of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a leading figure in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) wing of the party.
He also endorsed Mamdani in the June 24 primary.
However, according to the Times, Mamdani has been discouraging Ossé from taking on Jeffries in a June 2026 primary.
Mamdani even uninvited him from his November 4 election-night event over the dispute.
In a statement to the Times, Ossé pointed to dissatisfaction within his party.
“I’ve been hearing a lot of concern about Democratic Party leadership,” he said.
“It’s a big part of why I worked so hard to get Zohran elected and defeat the establishment’s champion, [former Democratic New York Gov.] Andrew Cuomo.”
“Right now, I’m focused on serving my constituents and guaranteeing the success of Zohran’s agenda at City Hall,” he added.
Jeffries’ office brushed aside the rumored challenge. Spokesman Justin Chermol told the Times that the House Minority Leader “is focused on addressing the crushing Republican health care crisis, combating [President] Donald Trump’s scheme to gerrymander congressional maps and leading the effort to take back the House of Representatives in 2026.”
DSA Ties Loom Over the Potential Challenge
The Times report follows an earlier Axios report from October 8, revealing that Ossé had begun floating a possible run.
Ossé also appeared to poke at Jeffries on social media, laughing at one of Jeffries’ comments about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a post on X.
— Chi Ossé (@OsseChi) November 10, 2025
Ossé became the youngest member in New York City Council history in 2021 and is the only Gen Z member currently serving.
He publicly joined the Democratic Socialists of America this summer, according to the New York Daily News, despite previously writing in an October 2023 X post that he was not a member and had not been endorsed by the group.
Whether the DSA will support his challenge could be a key factor.
Two anonymous sources told the Times that a signal from the local DSA chapter, especially if it might withhold endorsement, could influence his decision.
Mamdani’s mayoral campaign was backed heavily by the DSA.
Ossé’s Background
Ossé has described being raised Nichiren Buddhist, telling Brooklyn Paper in February:
“I think a lot of people when they hear someone’s a Buddhist, assume they’re really nice or really calm, not aggressive.
“Those aren’t traits I’d use to describe myself.”
He is also the son of the late Reggie Ossé, the well-known hip-hop attorney and journalist known professionally as “Combat Jack.”
Whether Ossé ultimately launches a formal primary challenge remains to be seen, but if he does, the far-left wing of the Democratic Party could be heading for a direct confrontation with its top House leader in 2026.
READ MORE – Social Media Posts of Zohran Mamdani’s Wife Emerge Exposing Extremist Views
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