Who Will Win New York’s 13th Congressional District House Race

A growing chorus of New York City voices is calling for affordable housing obligations to be spread across all neighborhoods rather than concentrated in lower-income areas. The debate follows Mayor Mamdani's draft Fair Housing Growth Strategy, which calls for 700,000 new affordable homes citywide. Critics note that production has become concentrated in neighborhoods like Fordham in the Bronx and East New York in Brooklyn, while wealthier areas of Manhattan and Northeast Queens add comparatively little, largely due to higher land costs.

Proponents point to mid-20th-century precedents, including Stuyvesant Town, Co-op City, and Rochdale Village, as evidence that citywide commitment once drove large-scale affordable housing production. They cite newer projects in high-cost areas — including a Midtown Manhattan hotel conversion, Williamsburg developments, and a Long Island City waterfront proposal backed by the Mamdani administration — as proof that affordable housing can be built anywhere with sufficient public investment, creative financing, and programs like 485-x. Advocates are urging City Hall to expand such tools to make development feasible in expensive neighborhoods, framing the housing crisis as a shared citywide responsibility rather than a burden for a few communities.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez met with Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens for an hour-long lunch at the Salt City Market, part of a tour that also included stops in Buffalo and Ithaca. At each stop, she met with local Democratic and Working Families Party members to discuss strategies for re-engaging infrequent voters.

Notably absent from the conversation was any discussion of Ocasio-Cortez's own political future, despite widespread speculation she could run for U.S. Senate or the presidency in 2028. Owens said she appreciated that the congresswoman kept the focus on local and federal issues affecting Syracuse residents, including the Trump administration's deportation enforcement, the Interstate 81 viaduct removal project, and the state's recent withdrawal from project labor agreements. Owens also raised concerns about synthetic drug legislation and the taxation of large tax-exempt property owners like Syracuse University, noting Ocasio-Cortez said similar concerns arose in Ithaca regarding Cornell University. Monday's meeting was the first between the two officials.

U.S. immigration agents shot and wounded a man Thursday afternoon in Marble Hill, Bronx, while a 5-year-old child was present in his car, according to New York City police, eyewitnesses and Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani said early reports indicate agents surrounded the man and child before firing multiple rounds, and that the child appeared physically unharmed. He called the incident "unconscionable" and said he would press President Trump to end ICE enforcement actions in the city.

The Department of Homeland Security said ICE officers were conducting a targeted operation to arrest a Dominican national with a prior grand larceny conviction, multiple prior arrests, and alleged gang associations, when an officer discharged his weapon, injuring him; the man is hospitalized and expected to survive. DHS noted he had previously been arrested by NYPD but released under sanctuary policies. The shooting drew roughly 300 protesters to the hospital where he was treated, leading to scuffles with police and barricades. The incident adds to a growing tally of violent encounters involving federal immigration agents under the Trump administration, which has faced criticism over accountability as deportation operations intensify nationwide.

New Hampshire held primary elections Tuesday to pick nominees for Congress, governor and the state Legislature, with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's retirement reshaping the ballot. Rep. Chris Pappas led a five-way Democratic Senate field that included progressive challenger Karishma Manzur, a research scientist and democratic socialist whose late surge, fueled by criticism of Pappas' pro-Israel donor support and his "present" vote on restricting arms sales to Israel, narrowed his once-commanding lead despite his large fundraising advantage and Shaheen's endorsement. On the Republican side, John Sununu, endorsed by President Trump over rival Scott Brown, held a wide edge among eight candidates; both Sununu and Brown are former senators previously defeated by Shaheen. The seat is one of a handful nationally that could help decide Senate control, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats.

Pappas' departure from the 1st District opened a crowded race, with Stefany Shaheen (Jeanne Shaheen's daughter) and Maura Sullivan leading a nine-person Democratic field; Republicans chose among five candidates including Trump-endorsed businessman Anthony DiLorenzo and repeat candidate Hollie Noveletsky. In the 2nd District, Democratic Rep. Maggie Goodlander faced a primary challenge from state legislator Paige Beauchemin, while Republicans chose from candidates including repeat nominee Lily Tang Williams. Gov. Kelly Ayotte easily advanced toward a second term against two Republican rivals, favored against unopposed Democrat Cinde Warmington. Winners have eight weeks to campaign before the November 3 general election, as New Hampshire shifts future primaries to June starting in 2026.

Many Republicans facing tough November races are avoiding next week's GOP midterm convention in Dallas, the first held by a major party in over four decades. A POLITICO survey found roughly 45 of more than 70 GOP candidates and members contacted are skipping or undecided, citing scheduling conflicts, high attendance fees, and reluctance to appear alongside President Donald Trump, who is set to headline with Vice President JD Vance. Top leaders including Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune plan to attend, along with 2028 hopefuls like Sen. Ted Cruz.

Separately, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is weighing disciplinary action against Reps. Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez after the two Democrats helped Republicans pass a procedural rule, prompting a referral to the caucus's rules panel. Other pending items include a bipartisan bill policing lawmaker misconduct, a possible September floor vote on Russia sanctions legislation, and an unresolved GOP split over regulating data centers ahead of the midterms.

Several New York Democrats running in competitive House races are putting distance between themselves and Gov. Kathy Hochul weeks before Election Day. Rep. Tom Suozzi skipped a Hochul campaign stop on Long Island, citing a scheduling conflict, while Rep. Laura Gillen attended. In New York's 17th District, challenger Cait Conley was caught on video agreeing with GOP Rep. Mike Lawler that "Hochul has got to go," later calling Hochul to smooth things over. Blake Gendebien, running in the 21st District, declined to say if he'd support Hochul. Recent Siena polling shows Hochul's favorability underwater and her lead over Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman narrowing in suburban and upstate areas, reviving concerns about coattail effects seen in 2022.

Brooklyn Democratic Party district leaders voted Tuesday night to approve contested bylaw changes that critics say will help chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn retain control of the county organization. The changes, passed with support from 21 leaders including eight who lost primary challenges in June, add dozens of new seats to the executive committee just as a reform slate backing Julio Peña had gained enough votes to elect a new chair for the first time in nearly two decades.

The vote proceeded despite public calls to halt it from Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Sen. Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Attorney General Letitia James. The closed-door meeting, held at a Mill Basin Democratic club, barred press entry, and Bichotte Hermelyn left without commenting, later calling the process "open, fair and democratic." Reformers, who argue the rule changes dilute their newly won majority and violate election law, plan to refile a lawsuit after a judge previously declined to intervene before the vote. The fight over party control is expected to continue ahead of the chair election.