Working Fams Party endorses 16 for Council
The progressive Working Families Party on Thursday endorsed 16 candidates for the 51-seat City Council, including eight in Brooklyn.
The labor-backed party, which said it supported the elections of 11 new lawmakers and two incumbents in 2021, delivered endorsements this cycle to a diverse group of incumbent lawmakers. The primary election is scheduled for June.
“Our chapter members went through a careful and deliberate endorsement process, interviewing dozens of candidates,” Syed Ali, the party’s Brooklyn chapter leader, said in a statement. “Our endorsed candidates have worked in authentic partnership with grassroots communities.”
The Working Families Party avoided wading into some of the cycle’s more eye-catching Democratic primary races, like the contest in Council’s 9th District in central Harlem, where multiple hopefuls are taking on far-left Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan.
Jordan was not endorsed by the Working Families Party during her narrow 2021 primary victory. This spring, she faces Yusef Salaam, a member of the Central Park 5; and state Assembly members Inez Dickens and Al Taylor.
The Working Families Party also stayed out of the wide-open primary race for a reconfigured District 43 in southern Brooklyn.
The left-wing party endorsed two candidates in Manhattan. Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, who ran for Congress last year without the party’s backing, received a Council nod in her Kips Bay district, and Councilwoman Carmen de la Rosa scored support in Washington Heights.
In the Bronx, the party endorsed Councilwoman Pierina Sanchez for her Morris Heights district, Councilwoman Althea Stevens in Concourse Village and Councilwoman Amanda Farias in Soundview.
The party offered Queens endorsements to Councilwoman Tiffany Caban in Astoria, Councilman Shekar Krishnan in Jackson Heights and Councilwoman Julie Won in Sunnyside.
In Brooklyn, endorsements went to Councilman Lincoln Restler in Greenpoint, Councilwoman Jennifer Gutierrez in Williamsburg, Councilwoman Crystal Hudson in Prospect Heights and Councilman Chi Osse in Crown Heights.
Also receiving Working Families Party endorsements in Brooklyn: Councilwoman Sandy Nurse in Bushwick, Councilwoman Alexa Aviles in Sunset Park, Councilwoman Shahana Hanif in Kensington and Councilwoman Rita Joseph in Flatbush.