Brooklyn City Council member Chi Ossé has formally filed FEC paperwork, launching a bold primary challenge against House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries in New York’s 8th Congressional District.

At 27, Ossé is among the youngest city council members and a rising progressive voice aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. He argues that Democratic leadership, including Jeffries, is failing to present a compelling vision or robust resistance to former President Donald Trump.

But his campaign launch hasn’t earned full backing. Despite his close ties to mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Mamdani and other progressives have urged Ossé to hold off, warning that challenging Jeffries may fracture the party. Even Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed skepticism, calling the timing “not a good idea.

Jeffries, who first won his congressional seat in 2013 and now leads House Democrats, responded to Ossé’s move with a mixture of openness and confidence. He welcomed the challenge, saying he “looks forward to a rigorous debate about the type of serious leadership required.”

Ossé’s bid signals a growing push by younger, more ideologically left Democrats to unseat party establishment figures. Political observers see it as part of a broader “Mamdani-style” insurgent wave in New York politics. Whether he succeeds or not, Ossé’s challenge could reshape progressive influence within the Democratic Party especially in Brooklyn.