Brooklyn Councilmember Chi Ossé’s congressional run against House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries encountered quite a few obstacles before it even got off the ground. Now, it seems to be at an end.
As of Tuesday, Nov. 25, Ossé’s press secretary said he’s ended his campaign, as indicated on his social media.
“Per Chi’s X (formerly Twitter), he has explicitly stated will not run against Jeffries without DSA’s support,” and after the DSA Chapters’ vote against him, he has said on X: “NYC DSA FOREVER IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE.”
Ossé filed paperwork earlier this month to run against Jeffries next year in the 2026 primary, capitalizing on a general dissatisfaction that many younger voters have had with high-ranking Democrats as of late. Some have referred to it as the “Mamdani effect” — in reference to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral win.
DeNora Getachew, a Bronx native and CEO of youth-centered nonprofit DoSomething, has been seeing a measurable uptick in young people, especially young people of color, expressing interest in running for public office or getting more engaged in politics.
“Young people have long been telling us that they want to see new voices in power, true lived experiences, and modern approaches to campaigning and politics. Now, Millennials and Gen Z’ers are ready to take a seat at the table where policy decisions are made about their own lives,” said Getachew in a statement.
“The through-line between youth activism, authentic political campaigning and younger generations running for office is becoming unmistakable, and 2026 may be the first national cycle where we see what a younger, more diverse candidate pool looks like at scale.”
However, Ossé’s success in politics precedes the Mamdani effect.
Ossé was a former nightclub promoter, Black Lives Matter activist, and the son of the late Reggie Ossé (aka Combat Jack, a former entertainment lawyer well-known in hip hop circles) and entrepreneur Akim Vann Ossé. He was seen as an outsider to politics, at a time when the “Brooklyn Democratic machine” was more about ‘waiting your turn’ than fostering up-and-coming political talent.
He made history in 2021 as one of the first LGBTQ Black members elected to city council. But at just 23 years old, it was his age that left him viewed as an upstart. He became the youngest person ever to be elected to the council.
Up until now, Ossé’s youth, vibrancy, and ability to connect with voters via social media haven’t been a huge hindrance to him navigating the city council and putting forth legislation. However, he has also been known for conflicts with other elected officials online.
In June 2025, he called fellow Councilmember Darlene Mealy “the worst member of the City Council,” “outside of a few lunatic members of the Republican Caucus.” A few months ago, he doubled down with harsh criticism against neighboring Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman as well. “Stefani Zinerman is going to lose her reelection bid because she deserves to. In addition to poorly serving her district, her politics are far out of line with her constituents. (That + I’m gonna make sure she loses),” Ossé posted on X.
“He has big ambition, but the ambition takes him away from the district,” said Barry Cooper, founder of the B.R.O. Experience and a youth organizer in Bedford-Stuyvesant. He hasn’t seen a lot of community support for Ossé’s run either. “When you think of him, you think of the whole city. He’s more of a political voice than a political leader.”
So Ossé’s attempt at taking on Jeffries isn’t exactly off-brand, but it has distanced him from some of his strongest allies. Ossé’s party, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), voted not to support his campaign. And even fellow socialist and friend, Mamdani, said that it wasn’t the right time for Ossé to run.
In a recent interview on Nov. 24, Jeffries said that both he and U.S Senator Chuck Schumer have spent the last several months pushing back against the Trump administration, not directly addressing Ossé’s challenge.
Jeffries said that he didn’t arrange with Mamdani, whom he endorsed for Mayor, to block the DSA from supporting Ossé. “We actually didn’t talk about the politics related to primaries in any great detail. We spent a lot of time talking about, and continue to do so, talking about his continued emphasis on affordability and public safety,” said Jeffries.
James Christopher, a New York–based communications strategist, said in a statement that Osse is a pivotal part of the wave of generational challenges to the Democratic establishment, but his exit from the race leaves a bit to be desired.
“Chi Ossé’s answer on if he remains in the race is vague — especially for voters who aren’t social media savvy,” surmised Christopher. “If you are taking on Hakeem Jeffries, the face of the Democratic Party in Congress, not offering a clear concession speaks volumes on leaving the doors open. However, ambiguity can also threaten to undercut the generational contrast Chi represents.”