1:23Councilmember Chi Osse speaks as Starbucks workers go on strike outside a Starbucks store, Nov. 13, 2025, in Brooklyn, New York.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
NYC councilman Chi Ossé gave the impression that he would be vying for the seat of House Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries representing New York's 8th congressional district in an X post on Monday.
Ossé was answering another user who called him out on comments from the prior month when he stated he had no aspirations to seek the office. This development follows the appearance of Ossé's name on FEC filings initiating a campaign for NY-08 earlier on Monday.
"How can Brooklyn constituents believe anything you say when just last month you stated, 'It would require a truly critical situation for me to even contemplate dedicating the remainder of my 20s to DC. To be unambiguous, I am not campaigning for Congress,'" a post read.
Ossé replied: "It appears that we are indeed in a dire situation."
Ossé indicated to Axios that he is "actively considering" the challenge and confirmed the authenticity of the filings.
"The Democratic Party’s leadership is not only failing to mount an effective defense against Donald Trump, they have also been unsuccessful in presenting a vision in which we can all have confidence," Ossé, who recently affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, voiced in a statement to Axios.
"These shortcomings are among the numerous reasons that I am currently thinking about a potential campaign for New York’s 8th Congressional District," he confided to the outlet.
Councilmember Chi Osse speaks as Starbucks workers go on strike outside a Starbucks store, Nov. 13, 2025, in Brooklyn, New York.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Ossé is thinking about a bid without the full support of progressives. The team of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has reportedly been trying to dissuade Ossé from running, and Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, communicated in a statement that "this is not an opportune moment to launch a primary challenge to Hakeem Jeffries."
Jeffries backed Mamdani in the closing days of the New York City mayoral contest.
When asked about Ossé's FEC filings at a press conference on Capitol Hill Monday afternoon, Jeffries seemed to embrace the challenge, proclaiming, "Join in, the water is fine."
A Jeffries spokesperson released a statement to ABC News conveying that they "welcome this primary contest" from Ossé and "anticipate a thorough debate."
"Leader Jeffries is working diligently to alleviate the high cost of living, confront the Republican healthcare dilemma, tackle corruption and regain control of the House for the benefit of the nation. We look forward to a rigorous debate about the serious leadership required to deliver results for the people of Brooklyn and the nation," stated Justin Chermol, Jeffries’ spokesperson.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to press as members of the House of Representatives head back to Washington after a 53-day break, for a vote that could bring the longest government shutdown in history to a close, on Capitol Hill, Nov. 11, 2025.Annabelle Gordon/Reuters
Ossé, 27, created a stir as New York’s inaugural Gen Z city councilmember upon being sworn into office in 2022 and spearheaded the FARE Act, which passed last year and mandates that landlords cover broker’s fees instead of tenants.
Ossé departed the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America in 2020 "very soon after joining," mentioning on X that he "did not share the organization’s values." He subsequently rejoined NYC-DSA in 2025.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
