Far-left Democratic New York City Councilman Chi Ose is reportedly preparing to challenge House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in the 2026 elections.
Ose, who some might describe as unconventional, recently communicated to political allies his intention to run against Jeffries, as reported by The New York Times, citing two anonymous sources. He’s been discussing his plans with various Democrats and is expected to formally kick off his campaign soon.
Neither Ose’s nor Jeffries’ offices responded to requests for comments.
At just 27 years old, Ose is viewed as a close ally of Zoran Mamdani, the next potential New York City Mayor, who was endorsed during the Democratic primary this past June. However, it’s noted that Mamdani had attempted to persuade Ose against this decision. Interestingly, The New York Times indicates that Ose will not actually challenge Jeffries in the upcoming primary.
Following some controversy, Ose was reportedly uninvited from Mamdani’s election night gathering.
“I’ve heard numerous concerns regarding Democratic leadership, which is a significant reason I worked hard to help elect Zoran and combat the establishment,” Ose mentioned in a statement to The New York Times.
He added that his current focus is on serving his constituents and promoting Mamdani’s policies at City Hall.
Justin Charmol, a spokesperson for Jeffries, reiterated that the House Minority Leader is concentrating on addressing the health care crisis, rather than the Republican Party’s plans for the 2026 elections.
Interestingly, this NYT report comes on the heels of earlier discussions reported by Axios, hinting at Ose’s potential run against Jeffries. In fact, Ose seemed to react humorously to Jeffries’ comments about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Ose made history in 2021 by becoming the youngest member of the New York City Council and remains the sole Gen Z representative there.
Additionally, he recently spoke about reconnecting with his Nichiren Buddhist roots. While many assume Buddhists embody calm and gentle traits, Ose confessed that these don’t quite resonate with his personality.
Ose has also joined the Democratic Socialists of America this summer, despite previously stating he wasn’t affiliated with them. Reports suggest that grassroots support from the DSA could significantly influence his decision to run against Jeffries.
It’s also worth noting that Ose’s late father, Reggie Ose, was a well-known hip-hop lawyer and journalist in New York.
