The New York Working Families Party announced their endorsements, Wednesday. Rolling out endorsements for incumbents facing newly redrawn districts including Reps. Jamaal Bowman (CD16) and Mondaire Jones (CD17) – who represents part of Westchester County as well as Nydia Velazquez (CD7) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (CD14).
The backing by Working Families comes as potential inter-party challengers may be sizing up the new landscapes due to redistricting. Rep. Jones’ Westchester district is shifting north, west, and getting whiter while Rep. Bowman’s district that includes the NorthEast Bronx is moving a bit deeper into Westchester.
Rep. Bowman has secured needed resources for community development projects in Westchester County and the Bronx, and introduced a visionary Green New Deal for Public Schools package that would create safer and healthier learning environments for youth. Last month, Rep. Bowman put his body on the line to protect voting rights and attacks on our democracy.
“We’re thrilled to endorse Rep. Jamaal Bowman for reelection in New York’s 16th District,” said Sochie Nnaemeka, Director of the New York Working Families Party. “Jamaal has been a powerful champion for public education, housing affordability, and climate justice. We can count on him to fight tooth-and-nail for our families in Congress and continue to push for the passage of the Build Back Better agenda. We look forward to partnering with Jamaal to make New York’s 16th District a place where everyone can thrive.”
Congressman Bowman tells Black Westchester he couldn’t be prouder to receive the endorsement of the NY Working Families Party.
“I could not be prouder to receive the endorsement of one of the leading political forces in NY, the Working Families Party,” said Rep. Bowman shared with BW. “Back in 2020, WFP’s endorsement was critical in helping us build the grassroots support that we needed to beat an incumbent. Now, one year later, I am proud to team up with them again as we continue to push for a more just and fair agenda that truly puts the needs of working families first. Our communities, district, and country cannot thrive without working families.”
Congressman Jones who is running for reelection in New York’s 17th Congressional District also receives NYWFP’s endorsement for being a vocal leader on democracy reforms and voting rights.
“Our party is proud to endorse Rep. Mondaire Jones for reelection to Congress,” said Nnaemeka. “Mondaire has been a vocal leader for democratic reforms that would give working people a greater voice in politics. A climate champion, he introduced a bill that would phase out the Federal Reserve’s financing of fossil fuel projects. We look forward to Rep. Jones’s continued leadership and powerful advocacy on behalf of working New Yorkers.”
As a proud product of a working-class family, Jones told BW he is so grateful for the WFP’s leadership and honored to receive their endorsement.
“Whether working to save our democracy, affirm housing as a human right, or advance economic justice, the Working Families Party has been a steadfast partner in the fight for equity and justice,” said Rep. Jones shared with BW. “As corporations and special interests consolidate power, WFP is fighting to ensure our country works for working people, and that they have representatives who actually understand the challenges they face. As the proud product of a working-class family, I’m so grateful for WFP’s leadership and partnership, and honored to have its endorsement in my campaign for reelection.”
Rep. Ocasio Cortez, who hails from the Bronx, is shifting a bit more into Queens, and Rep. Velazquez, whose long-time base has been Sunset Park, loses all of that territory. Of the four candidates, Bowman seems the most likely to draw a serious challenge, possibly including Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, who made a flippant comment during a radio show on WVOX Radio 1460 AM after the Bronx congressman was arrested after protesting for voting rights in front of the Capitol, the NY Daily News reports.
Several community leaders and organizations immediately began to release statements pushing back against the Yonkers Mayor including the Black Dems of Westchester, The Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus (WBWPC), Yonkers and New Rochelle branches of the NAACP, NYCD16-Indivisible, and the New York State Working Family Party, just to name a few.
“At this moment, we need to ensure that our champions get the push, the support, and encouragement to continue to ensure that this agenda gets delivered on,” said NYWFP Director Sochie Nnaemeka. “We think that they have a lot of work to do and want to make sure they know that the Working Families Party is behind them, and expects the fight to continue.”
The New York Working Families Party previously announced their endorsement of Jumaane Williams for Governor of New York. Other candidates endorsed by NYWFP included Tish James for Attorney General and Keron Alleyne for State Assembly, District 60.
Background on the New York Working Families Party: The Working Families Party is leading the fight for social, racial, and economic justice in New York state. By pushing for progressive legislation and by also training, recruiting, and supporting progressive leaders to run for office, we form a unique bridge between progressive activism and electoral success.
