President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani are not on the ballot Tuesday, but their political influence will be closely watched as voters in New York, Maryland, Utah and South Carolina take part in primaries and runoff elections.
The contests are expected to offer a snapshot of where both major parties stand ahead of the November midterm elections. For Republicans, several races will test the strength of Trump’s endorsements and his continued influence over GOP voters. For Democrats, New York’s primaries will show whether Mamdani’s progressive coalition can expand beyond City Hall and challenge long-established party figures in Congress.
In New York, Mamdani is backing several left-wing candidates, including three congressional contenders running against more established Democrats. His support has turned the races into a test of whether his political brand can shape the direction of the Democratic Party in the country’s largest city.
One of the most closely watched contests is in New York’s 13th Congressional District, where political organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier is challenging Rep. Adriano Espaillat. Espaillat, who has served in Congress for nearly a decade, has support from several major Democratic figures, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Avila Chevalier, backed by Mamdani, has argued that a win could build momentum for a broader left-wing movement.
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Mamdani is also supporting former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander in his challenge to Rep. Dan Goldman in New York’s 10th Congressional District, which includes parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Goldman has the backing of prominent national Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In New York’s 7th Congressional District, Mamdani has endorsed state Assembly Member Claire Valdez, who is running against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. The race is also drawing attention because Valdez and Avila Chevalier are aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, as is Mamdani.
The New York contests have focused heavily on affordability, housing costs and the future of the Democratic Party. They have also included debate over Israel, Gaza and the role of pro-Israel groups in Democratic primaries. Mamdani and his allies argue that the party needs a sharper break from establishment politics, while critics say the mayor’s influence could push Democrats too far left in competitive races.
The outcome could either strengthen Mamdani’s status as a rising Democratic power broker or raise questions about the limits of his influence outside his mayoral victory.
On the Republican side, Trump’s endorsement power is being tested in South Carolina’s GOP gubernatorial runoff. The race features Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson, who are competing to succeed term-limited Gov. Henry McMaster.
Trump initially backed Evette, who is also supported by McMaster. But ahead of the runoff, he endorsed both Evette and Wilson, saying he did not want to hurt either candidate by choosing only one. The unusual dual endorsement has drawn attention because the South Carolina race had been viewed as another measure of Trump’s ability to shape Republican nominating contests.
Wilson has emphasized his experience as attorney general, prosecutor and military veteran. Evette has presented herself as a business-focused outsider aligned with Trump’s agenda. The runoff has become increasingly heated, with both candidates attacking each other’s records in the final stretch.
Trump’s influence is also being watched in upstate New York, where he is backing businessman Anthony Constantino in the Republican primary to replace retiring Rep. Elise Stefanik. Constantino faces Robert Smullen, a retired Marine Corps colonel and state assemblyman supported by the state party.
Other key races are also on the ballot. In Manhattan, Rep. Jerry Nadler’s retirement has opened a Democratic seat for the first time in decades. In New York’s 17th Congressional District, Democrats are choosing a nominee to face Republican Rep. Mike Lawler in a race that could help decide control of the House. Utah voters are also selecting candidates under a new congressional map, while Maryland Gov. Wes Moore faces a longshot Democratic primary challenge.
Why It Matters
The primaries will help show whether party voters are moving toward establishment-backed candidates or more insurgent figures. For Trump, the races are another test of his hold on the Republican Party. For Mamdani, they are a chance to prove his political movement can influence congressional races and reshape Democratic politics in New York.
What Comes Next
After Tuesday’s results, both parties will quickly shift toward the general election. Competitive House races in New York, Utah and other states could play a major role in determining which party controls Congress during the final two years of Trump’s term.
I am told that this ad, featuring Zohran Mamdani teaming up with Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier, and Claire Valdez, aired during tonight’s NBA Finals game between the Spurs and the Knicks. pic.twitter.com/LMtKY5jYqa
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 4, 2026
