Queer Buddhist Socialist Reportedly Plans To Primary Hakeem Jeffries

Far-left Democratic New York City Councilman Chi Ossé reportedly plans to run against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in 2026.

Ossé — who is openly queer – recently told his political allies that he intends to launch a bid against Jeffries in the midterms, the New York Times (NYT) reported Monday, citing two anonymous sources. The councilman has spoken to various Democratic colleagues about his plans to run and is expected to officially launch his campaign against Jeffries in the coming weeks, according to the New York Times. (RELATED: Hakeem Jeffries and Progressive Democrats Angry Over Deal to End Shutdown)

Ossé’s and Jeffries’ offices did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

Ossé, 27, is considered a close ally of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, whom he supported during the June 24 Democratic primary in the Big Apple.

However, Mamdani privately tried to dissuade Dared to challenge Jeffries in the June 2026 primary, the New York Times reported.

The dispute led to Ossé not being invited to Mamdani’s election night party on November 4, the New York Times reported, again citing two anonymous sources.

WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 10: U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) takes the podium during a press conference on November 10, 2025 at the Capitol in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)

Ossé told the New York Times in a statement that he had “heard a lot of concerns about the direction of the Democratic Party. That’s a big part of why I worked so hard to get Zohran elected and defeat the establishment champion,” [former Democratic New York Gov.] Andrew Cuomo.

“Right now, I am focused on serving my constituents and ensuring the success of Zohran’s agenda at City Hall,” he continued.

Justin Chermol, a spokesperson for Jeffries, told the New York Times that the top Democrat in the House of Representatives “is focused on solving the crushing Republican health care crisis, fighting against [President] Donald Trump’s plan to change congressional maps and lead efforts to retake the House of Representatives in 2026.

The New York Times report comes a month after Axios first reported on Oct. 8 that Ossé was considering a run against Jeffries. Ossé appeared to laugh at a comment Jeffries made about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a post Monday on X.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 24: Chi Ossé attends the Club Cosmo celebration during ZCON at Skylight at The Refinery on October 24, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Cosmopolitan/UTA Next Gen)

In 2021, Ossé became the youngest member of the New York City Council. He is also the only member of Generation Z currently serving on the city council.

Moreover, Ossé said in a February interview with the Brooklyn Paper that he was raised as a Nichiren Buddhist and began reconnecting with the practice this year. Nichiren Buddhism is a Japanese Buddhist movement, according to BBC News.

“I think a lot of people, when they hear that someone is Buddhist, assume that they’re really nice or really calm, not aggressive. Those are not traits that I would use to describe myself,” he told the Brooklyn Paper.

Ossé also joined the left-wing group Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) this summer, the New York Daily News reported on October 14. He previously wrote in an October 9, 2023 X-article that he was not a member of the DSA and had not been supported by the organization. (RELATED: How America’s Largest Socialist Group Could Elect a Million Mamdanis)

If the local DSA chapter indicates it might withhold support, that could influence Ossé’s decision to run, two anonymous sources told the New York Times. Mamdani’s campaign for mayor was notably supported by the DSA.

Ossé’s late father, Reggie Ossé, was a well-known lawyer and hip-hop journalist based in New York, known professionally as “Combat Jack.”

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