NY AFL-CIO Withholds Endorsements from Three Democratic House Candidates

The New York AFL-CIO, which aggregates about 3,000 unions and 2.5 million members, voted on Wednesday to stay neutral in three congressional contests, refusing to endorse Daraliza Avila Chevalier, Brad Lander and Laura Gillen. Avila Chevalier, a socialist backed by Zohran Mamdani, defeated longtime Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary for the 11th district that spans northern Manhattan and the Bronx. Lander, also supported by Mamdani, ousted two-term Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th district covering lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn.

Gillen, a first-term Democrat from Nassau County’s competitive District 4, had previously received the federation’s endorsement in 2024 but was left without it this cycle, a surprise to Democratic insiders. While the labor group stayed neutral for these races, it endorsed Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino in Long Island’s District 2 and backed other Democratic incumbents in swing districts such as Tom Suozzi in District 3 and Cait Conley in District 17. Individual unions, including NY State United Teachers and SEIU Local 32BJ, still publicly support Gillen’s campaign.