AOC’s Dem fights heat up vs. Adams
The proxy war between Mayor Adams and lefty socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over control of New York’s Democratic Party turned to Brooklyn’s 60th state Assembly District Monday.
In the latest iteration of Democratic Party infighting, Adams conducted a “walking tour” with Democratic incumbent Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas on the third day of early voting for the June 28 primary in the district that includes East New York, Brownsville and Canarsie.
Lucas is facing off against lefty Keron Alleyne, who is backed by AOC, the Democratic Socialists of America, the Working Families Party and assemblyman-turnedcouncilman Charles Barron.
Lucas defeated Alleyne in a special election in February for the seat that Barron vacated.
“We got your back Keron Alleyne,” AOC recently tweeted.
“Thank you again @AOC for your continued support and for amplifying this campaign! Always a pleasure to be in spaces filled with organizers who are ready to fight for working class New Yorkers first : #Keron4Assembly #KeronisRunning,” the insurgent responded.
Adams first endorsed Lucas before she won the special election in February.
“I am honored & humbled to receive the endorsement of Mayor Eric Adams.
“We both care deeply about issues that impact our community,” Lucas tweeted then.
Slate of candidates
Ocasio-Cortez is supporting a slate of 13 DSA defund-the-police candidates running for state legislative seats, including insurgents seeking to topple entrenched incumbents backed by Adams and the Democratic Party. She also is backing a slew of candidates supported by the left-leaning Working Families Party, with much overlap between the two slates.
Last week, Adams appeared at a Juneteenth event with veteran Bronx Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, who faces a primary challenge from former OcasioCortez staffer Jonathan Soto. AOC has endorsed Soto.
Hizzoner also endorsed the reelection of Harlem Assemblywoman Inez Dickens, who is facing a challenge from AOC-backed rival Delsenia Glover. Like Adams, Dickens supported fixes to the state’s no-cash bail law.
The Lucas event was initially put on Adams’ official public schedule but then removed, perhaps out of concern that it would be perceived as a pro-Lucas campaign event instead of a City Hall governmental event.