Chi Ossé, a City Councilmember from Brooklyn, has officially filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to challenge House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in the Democratic primary for New York's 8th Congressional District, which encompasses parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant and southern Brooklyn. Ossé criticized the Democratic Party's leadership for not effectively opposing former President Donald Trump and for lacking a compelling vision for the future.

This primary challenge follows the recent election of Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat and democratic socialist, as mayor of New York City, marking a shift in the political landscape. Ossé, who is 27 years old and recently re-elected to his second full term on the City Council, has joined the Democratic Socialists of America and has utilized social media to engage constituents on governmental issues.

Hakeem Jeffries, 55, has a background in the New York State Assembly and has quickly ascended through the ranks of Democratic leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is positioned to potentially become the first African American Speaker of the House if the Democrats regain the majority and he is re-elected.

Mamdani, the newly elected mayor, expressed that Ossé's talents could be better utilized within New York City, emphasizing the importance of addressing local issues such as affordability and governance. Jeffries' spokesperson noted that he has been actively working on issues related to the cost of living and healthcare, welcoming the primary challenge as an opportunity for debate on leadership priorities for Brooklyn and the nation.