Who's running in New York's 8th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Hakeem Jeffries currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Putting people over politics, the slogan his campaign is built on.
Affordability, which he has made the centre of his party's midterm economic message.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 8th District since January 2013.
House Democratic leader since January 2023.
Member of the New York State Assembly and an attorney before Congress.
Advanced from the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary.
Arguments in favor
He is the leader of the House Democrats, and has put affordability at the centre of the party's case, opening the midterm campaign with an economic pitch and running on "people over politics".
— Hakeem Jeffries's campaign
He will not let the party be defined by its left flank: "There will never be a moment where I bend the knee to hard-left democratic socialism", a position he has backed by intervening in New York primaries against DSA candidates.
— Hakeem Jeffries, quoted by The Atlantic
Arguments against
He is weak against the administration and wrong on Gaza: he said "Israel is not conducting an ethnic cleansing campaign. Israel is not engaged in genocide" and voted for the 2024 Israel Security Supplemental providing $26.38 billion in weapons while banning funding for UNRWA. His staff also blocked a member from signing the discharge petition to restore federal workers' union rights rather than let a Republican take credit for the decisive signature.
— Current Affairs, making the case for a primary challenge from the left
His leadership is failing on its own terms: "the knives are already out for Democrat leadership" after establishment candidates he endorsed lost New York primaries to socialists, with Sen. Elissa Slotkin publicly questioning whether it is time for him and Chuck Schumer to step aside. The committee's "Project 2026" advertising campaign runs against 25 Democrats on "Hakeem Jeffries' plan to remake America" — "raise taxes on working families, impeach President Trump."
— National Republican Congressional Committee
What we couldn’t verify
New York City Council member Chi Ossé filed to run against him in the 2026 Democratic primary; Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both discouraged the challenge, and the outcome of that filing was not established from the sources found.
AIPAC-aligned political committees have given him hundreds of thousands of dollars, and more than $1 million on some accountings; that figure is recorded here rather than presented as an argument because no independent verification was found.
His campaign site sets out themes rather than specific legislative achievements for Brooklyn and Queens; what he claims to have delivered locally was not established from the sources found.
Republican nominee for the 8th District; also carries the Conservative Party line.
Won the June 23, 2026 Republican primary.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Mizrahi by name could be found, and no published case for him: no campaign site was located and he has drawn no coverage. Because no case against him exists on the record, none is presented for him either.
His positions, fundraising and any endorsements were not reported in material available.
This district is among the most Democratic in the country and the general election has drawn almost no coverage.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
New York held its primary on June 23, 2026. Democratic incumbent Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, faces Republican Lewis Mizrahi, who also carries the Conservative Party line, in this Brooklyn district. A certified write-in candidate is not a printed choice and is not profiled here. New York allows fusion voting. The 2026 elections use the congressional map enacted on February 28, 2024. Roster from the New York qualifying lists as reported by Politics1 and Wikipedia. Neither candidate is listed with arguments for or against here: no published criticism of either candidate by name from someone opposing them in this race could be found, and setting out a case against one and not the other would tilt the page.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A New York ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at New York State Board of Elections.