LESSONS FROM THE ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK CITY
Last night, voters across New York delivered a powerful message: the era of status quo politics is over.
From Buffalo to Queens, grassroots candidates ran bold campaigns focused on the struggles facing working people and won decisive victories. Not only did Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier win their Congressional primaries, but progressives won downballot as well. Adam Bojak, Christian Celeste Tate, Eli Northrup, Illapa Sairitupac, Samantha Kattan, Eon Huntley, Diana Moreno and David Orkin all won their New York state assembly races, while Aber Kawas and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas won their State Senate races.
These victories occurred despite the fact that Super PACs funded by AIPAC, the crypto industry, AI and other billionaire-backed groups have spent tens of millions of dollars trying to defeat progressive candidates and crush a movement that threatens their economic and political power.
They happened because ordinary people knocked on doors, made phone calls, organized in their communities, and demanded a government that works for working families instead of wealthy campaign donors.
The American people — in New York and all across this country — are tired of a rigged economy that allows the very rich to become richer while working families struggle to afford housing, health care, child care and education. They are tired of a political system dominated by wealthy donors and corporate interests. And they are tired of billionaires and their Super PACs attempting to buy our elections.
Last night showed that when working people stand together, organize, and fight back, they can defeat establishment politicians and enormous amounts of money and political influence.
We’re making progress. The task before us now is to build on that momentum.
If Democrats regain control of Congress next year, they must listen to the people who put them in office. Status quo establishment policies are not enough. We must be bold. We must take on Oligarchy. We must represent working families and create a government that works for all, not just the few.
