Zephyr backs Clarke rival for Congress
Liberal law professor Zephyr Teachout endorsed Adem Bunkeddeko in his Democratic primary challenge to Rep. Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn.
“He has an incredible amount of energy, he is totally committed to issues that I care about and just really, really is willing to put a lot of work in,” Teachout told the Daily News on Sunday.
She said Bunkeddeko, who nearly beat Clarke in his first challenge, in 2018, is part of “a kind of second wave of exciting new, energetic unapologetically progressive candidates coming into Congress.”
Teachout’s surprisingly strong primary challenge to Gov. Cuomo in 2014 has made her an icon of sorts to Big Apple liberals.
She said Bunkeddeko’s stances on education, housing and campaign finance reform won her over.
Bunkeddeko (far right) — a former organizer for the Working Families Party, with which Teachout has close ties — is calling for federal policy to desegregate schools, including funding for those that recruit students from a variety of racial and economic backgrounds. He also wants to ensure housing is treated as a human right by fully funding NYCHA, among other steps.
“The key thing is he’s saying we don’t have to be passive about this, we don’t have to accept the lack of support from the federal government as a fact,” Teachout (above) said.
Bunkeddeko said he raised $100,706 in the quarter ending Dec. 31, bringing his total campaign haul to about $250,000.
“We have now matched what we raised in our [entire] last cycle,” said the candidate. “That’s an exciting place for us to be.”
He said 70% of his latest contributions came in sums under $200. “I’m proud to have her support as I run for Congress,” Bunkeddeko said of Teachout’s endorsement. “She’s been a fearless champion for progressive values for years.”
Teachout endorsed another young candidate challenging an established member of New York’s congressional delegation toward the end of last year. She’s supporting educator Jamaal Bowman’s run against Rep. Eliot Engel (DBronx/Westchester).
“I am actively seeking out candidates for Congress that are putting education first,” she said.