Chi Ossé Explores Congressional Bid Against Hakeem Jeffries

Chi Ossé, a Democratic Socialist and council member for Brooklyn’s 36th District, has officially filed paperwork to create a congressional exploratory committee. This move sets the stage for a potential challenge in the 2026 Democratic primary against incumbent Hakeem Jeffries for New York’s 8th Congressional District.

Jeffries, who has held his Brooklyn-based seat since 2013, faces a notable up-and-comer. At just 27 years old, Ossé has represented the neighborhoods of North Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant in the city council since 2021. Interestingly, Ossé’s father, Reginald “Reggie” Ossé, also known as “Combat Jack,” was a significant figure in hip-hop culture during the ’90s and 2010s.

This campaign announcement follows the recent victory of Zohran Mamdani in the NYC mayoral election, further showcasing the increasing acceptance of far-left candidates in the state.

Ossé’s attempt to enter the race also underscores the ideological divide between established Democrats and rising socialist candidates, which is influenced by generational differences.

“The Democratic Party’s leadership is not only failing to effectively fight back against Donald Trump; they have also failed to deliver a vision that we can all believe in,” Ossé expressed during an interview.

He added, “These failures are some of the many reasons why I am currently exploring a potential run for New York’s 8th Congressional District.”

Ossé had positive sentiments regarding Mamdani’s election win. He commented, “Socialism offers not just a structural strength to resist fascism, but also a positive vision worth fighting for. That’s why Zohran won this November. His campaign became a source of hope in a bleak political climate, and I was proud to be an early supporter.”

However, even with shared ideologies, Mamdani and his associates seem to have reservations about Ossé’s candidacy. They view it as a potential distraction that could hinder Mamdani’s relationship-building with establishment Democrats, including Jeffries, which could impact Mamdani’s agenda.

“He wants to strike when the iron is hot,” an insider noted about Ossé’s intentions, while another remarked, “How about listen to the next mayor, who is the hottest thing in politics right now?”

A report also indicated Mamdani’s effort to balance the interests of traditional party figures, such as New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and newer far-left contenders who want to replicate his election success.

In response to Ossé’s campaign announcement, Jeffries’ spokesperson remarked that “Leader Jeffries is fighting hard to lower the high cost of living, address the Republican healthcare crisis, combat corruption, and win back control of the House for the good of the country.”

He added, “We welcome this primary challenge and look forward to a rigorous debate about the type of serious leadership required to deliver for the people of Brooklyn and the nation.”

Additionally, the primary challenge reflects a deeper ideological split over the Israel-Gaza conflict. Ossé has been outspoken, calling Israel a “terror state” and referring to the situation in Gaza as “genocide.” In contrast, Jeffries has positioned himself as a staunch ally of Israel within the Democratic Party.

Jeffries has previously shown support at pro-Israel rallies, asserting that U.S. backing for Israel is “ironclad.”