PRIMARY ELECTION TOMORROW: Socialists and Progressives Contest Assembly Seats Across New York State
No. 276 | Monday, June 27
The NYC Thorn is a weekly roundup of local political news compiled by members of NYC-DSA.
DSA-endorsed Campaigns:
The Nation interviewed Sarahana Shrestha, the DSA-endorsed candidate for Assembly District 103 (Kingston), about her campaign and climate organizing. Shrestha’s incumbent opponent has taken nearly $250,000 in campaign contributions from health insurers and private healthcare providers.
Gay City News reported on Illapa Sairitupac’s candidacy in Assembly District 65 (Lower East Side), their queer identity, and their platform for the LGBTQ community. Grace Lee, who is running against Sairitupac, has collected significant campaign donations from Republicans and wall street executives.
City Limits covered Samy Nemir Olivares’ insurgent socialist campaign against longtime incumbent Assembly Member Erik Dilan (District 54, Bushwick).
Mayor Adams campaigned for Assembly Member Nikki Lucas (District 60, East New York), who is facing a challenge from NYC-DSA endorsed candidate Keron Alleyne.
DSA-endorsed Vanessa Agudelo (Assembly District 95, Northern Westchester) is facing a competitive three way open primary, with Ossining Town Supervisor Dana Levenberg receiving some mainstream Democratic establishment support and Westchester County Legislator Colin Smith receiving the support of teachers’ and law enforcement unions.
Incumbent NYC-DSA Assembly Members Phara Souffrant Forrest (District 57, Crown Heights), Emily Gallagher (District 50, Greenpoint), and Marcela Mitaynes (District 51), are facing right wing challengers in their districts.
Several opponents of DSA's slate have welcomed significant donations from prolific Republican donors in recent weeks.
Other Assembly Elections:
The Working Families Party is supporting a slate of progressives across the state, including all of DSA’s endorsed slate, who are running for Assembly in this Tuesday's primary.
Two independent expenditure committees that have been targeting candidates endorsed by DSA and the Working Families Party, Common Sense New Yorkers and Voters of New York, did not file legally required disclosures of their donors and expenditures on time. Five Assembly candidates targeted by these PACs filed a formal complaint with the state Board of Elections.
Bronx progressives Alessandra Biaggi and Gustavo Rivera are rallying behind Jessica Altagracia Woolford, who is running to unseat Jeff Dinowitz in Assembly District 81 (Riverdale). Rep. Ritchie Torres supports the moderate incumbent.
The New York Times covered many of Tuesday's left-wing Assembly challenges to establishment Democrats, led by DSA and WFP-endorsed slates across the state.
City & State released a comprehensive breakdown of all challenges to incumbent Democratic Assembly Members across the state, both from the left and right. Brooklyn Paper released a guide to all competitive assembly races in Brooklyn.
Statewide Primaries:
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Ana Maria Archila for Lieutenant Governor.
If Kathy Hochul prevails in the gubernatorial primary against Jumaane Williams and Tom Suozzi, she intends to raise as much as $70 million for the general election.
Other Elections:
Early voting turnout for Tuesday’s election appears to be drastically lower than it was last year, leading some political observers to suggest that the field operations of insurgent progressive campaigns will strongly influence the final result.
Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou (District 65, Lower East Side) secured the Working Families Party endorsement in August’s crowded primary for New York’s 10th Congressional District. Others seeking WFP’s endorsement included Council Member Carlina Rivera and former Mayor De Blasio.
Governor Hochul signed a bill into law on Friday that prevents absentee ballots from being rejected due to stray marks.
Local News:
NYC’s rent guidelines board approved rent increases of 3.25% in 1-year leases and 5% on 2-year leases, the largest increases since the board was made up of Mayor Bloomberg’s appointees in 2013.
Following the recent Supreme Court ruling easing restrictions on concealed carry gun permits, Governor Hochul scheduled a special session of the state legislature on June 30th to craft additional gun safety legislation.
Mayor Adams secretly changed the financial disclosures he filed during last year's election, acknowledging that he still owns the Brooklyn property he claimed to have "transferred" to a friend.
Eric Adams’ administration acknowledged that it has not been enforcing the vaccine mandate on private employers.
FOR THE TURNOUT
DSA’s candidates throughout the state need your help on Election Day. Please consider volunteering for an election day shift tomorrow here: https://fortheturnout.nyc/
REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE
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