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NKD Voter Guide - November 2024 General
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General Election Voter Guide

November 2024

General Election: Tuesday, November 5, 2024

About this voter guide

New Kings Democrats (NKD) developed this voter guide to inform Brooklynites about candidates who may be on their ballot in the November 2024 General Election. As of the publishing of this document, NKD is not planning to endorse in any of the races listed here, and nothing in this document should be construed as an official endorsement by the club. However, we do encourage you to vote for Democrats in this and every General Election.

This voter guide also seeks to inform Brooklynites about the ballot proposals they will encounter on the back of their ballot in the November 2024 General Election. We’ve included much more information below, but these are the toplines: NKD recommends that Brooklynites flip their ballot and vote YES on Proposal 1 and NO on Proposals 2 through 6.

Didn’t I just vote in April AND in June? What’s happening in November?

April and June were Primary Elections, where voters decided who would be on the Democratic Party line in the General Election. The November election will determine who is actually elected for these seats. Here’s what’s on the ballot – and in this guide:


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About New Kings Democrats

NKD is a progressive, grassroots political organization committed to bringing transparency, accountability, and inclusionary democracy to the Brooklyn Democratic Party. Founded by veterans of the Obama campaign, it is a borough-wide political organization that helps people seeking to become more engaged in local politics, and hopes to nurture a new generation of elected Brooklyn Democratic leaders.

Please e-mail politics@newkingsdemocrats.com to learn more about our work and to get involved.

© 2024   newkingsdemocrats.com

KEY DATES

HOW TO VOTE

Confirm your voter eligibility and where to vote: Confirm whether you are registered to vote and your Party affiliation, if any, at nycvotersearch.com. You can confirm your polling location by clicking “Poll Site Information” in the top-right corner of the screen. Go to findmypollsite.vote.nyc to view a sample ballot and your poll site locations and hours.

Vote by mail: New Yorkers may request an absentee ballot to vote by mail by October 26 (online) or November 4 (in person). You should vote that way if you requested and received your absentee ballot. If you instead want to go vote in person after having requested an absentee ballot, you’ll need to request an affidavit ballot at your poll site and vote that way.

Did you know? In August 2024, New York’s highest court upheld a state law that allows any voter to cast a ballot by mail.

Vote early: It’s the safest – aka least crowded – way to vote, and it also helps give candidates you care about some early information about voter turnout. Your early voting site is probably different from your Election Day voting site, so visit nycvotes.org to find it.

Vote Working Families: On your ballot, you’ll likely see the same name of a candidate listed alongside several political parties, such as “Democratic” and “Working Families.” Vote for the candidate on the Working Families Party (WFP) line. Your vote still counts toward the total for that candidate – but sends a message to candidates, political parties, and elected leaders across New York that you care about the progressive ideals WFP fights for: affordable and accessible housing, universal health care, good, living-wage jobs; public education; and more.

BALLOT PROPOSALS

In the 2024 general election, New York City voters will find six ballot proposals on the back of their ballot. NKD is including information about these ballot proposals toward the beginning of this voter guide so voters will remember to FLIP THEIR BALLOT and VOTE YES ON PROP 1 and NO ON PROPOSALS 2 THROUGH 6.

Did you know? For the first time this year, state law requires a proposed amendment to the state constitution to be submitted to the people for their approval in plain language, which is deemed to be no higher than an eighth-grade reading level.

PROPOSAL 1:

Amendment To Protect Against Unequal Treatment – Citywide

✅ NKD RECOMMENDS VOTING YES ✅  

Language of Proposal: “This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

“A ‘YES’ vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution. A ‘NO’ vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.”

What it Means: Proposal 1, also known as the New York Equal Rights Amendment, would protect abortion rights and our freedoms. Right now, the New York State Constitution includes protections for race and religion, but it leaves out protections against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy. Prop 1 would cement these rights so out-of-touch politicians cannot roll them back in the future.

All New Yorkers deserve the freedom to control our own lives, futures, and healthcare decisions, including our right to abortion. And no New Yorker should be discriminated against or taken advantage of by those in power. Prop 1 is a constitutional amendment that puts the power in the hands of New Yorkers, not politicians.

Learn More: nyequalrights.org 

PROPOSALS 2 THROUGH 6:

Mayor Eric Adams’s Power Grab

NKD encourages voters to defend democracy and defeat Mayor Adams’ attempt to enact dangerous and anti-democratic changes to New York City’s charter (NYC’s constitution), including making it harder to hold police and correction officers accountable. The mayor and his closest allies intentionally rushed a sham revision process to avoid the input of New Yorkers and increase their power. The changes they have proposed are bad for New York and bad for democracy. Say no to the mayor’s power grab by voting NO ON PROPOSALS 2 THROUGH 6!

Why is the mayor putting forward these proposals right now?

The charter is NYC’s governing document, akin to our city’s constitution. Mayor Adams announced his charter revision commission the night before the City Council introduced legislation that would have been put to voters in November for approval. It’s widely understood that the mayor created his last-minute charter commission to knock the Council’s legislation off the November 2024 ballot.

Why haven’t I heard about these proposals until now?

The overall charter revision process was a sham. Mayor Adams appointed a commission of his closest supporters and donors, including some with pending business before the city, to oversee the charter revision process. The time from the first hearing to the final vote on ballot items took place over just seven weeks, with little public promotion, and while most New Yorkers weren’t paying attention. The commission held only five public input sessions in the span of two weeks, where only a handful of commissioners attended and rooms were totally empty before releasing preliminary recommendations. The final report was released just days before the commission vote and then amended within hours before the vote – commission members didn’t even know last-minute changes had been made until they were informed at the vote meeting. The commission rubber-stamped all five questions to be placed on the November ballot.

PROPOSAL 2:

Cleaning Public Property

🚫 NKD RECOMMENDS VOTING NO 🚫

Language of Proposal: “This proposal would amend the City Charter to expand and clarify the Department of Sanitation’s power to clean streets and other City property and require disposal of waste in containers. Voting ‘Yes’ will expand and clarify the Department of Sanitation’s power to clean streets and other City property and require disposal of waste in containers. Voting ‘No’ leaves laws unchanged.”

What it Really Means: “Cleaning Public Property” is worded to seem innocent, but it's misleading and doesn't mention that it would give the Sanitation Department expanded enforcement powers to police and fine more New Yorkers. The proposal is a cruel and inhumane attack on our city’s street vendors and other New Yorkers who should be supported, not criminalized. It would increase policing and fines against New Yorkers, duplicating the role that the Police Department and others already play.

PROPOSAL 3:

Additional Estimates Of The Cost Of Proposed

Laws And Updates To Budget Deadlines

🚫 NKD RECOMMENDS VOTING NO 🚫

Language of Proposal: “This proposal would amend the City Charter to require fiscal analysis from the Council before hearings and votes on laws, authorize fiscal analysis from the Mayor, and update budget deadlines. Voting ‘Yes’ would amend the City Charter to require additional fiscal analysis prior to hearings and votes on local laws, and update budget deadlines. Voting ‘No’ leaves laws unchanged.”

What it Really Means: Proposal 3 will be described on your ballot as “additional estimates of the cost of proposed laws & updates to budget deadlines.” This sounds wonky and innocent, but that’s intentionally misleading. Prop 3 would drastically change the city’s constitution and weaken our democracy. It would give the mayor more unchecked power and weaken checks and balances while letting the mayor block and further slow down the ability of the city to deliver for New Yorkers. It would take power away from everyday voters and create more bureaucracy and new ways for mayors to interfere with legislation they don’t like, even when it helps people. Prop 3 would let mayors hide behind bureaucracy when they want to block popular initiatives like housing and childcare assistance. Prop 3 is dangerous for democracy and should never have been put on the ballot after such a rushed charter review process.

PROPOSAL 4:

More Notice And Time Before Votes On Public Safety Legislation

🚫 NKD RECOMMENDS VOTING NO 🚫

Proposal Language: “This proposal would require additional public notice and time before the City Council votes on laws respecting the public safety operations of the Police, Correction, or Fire Departments. Voting ‘Yes’ will require additional notice and time before the Council votes on laws respecting public safety operations of the Police, Correction, or Fire Departments. Voting ‘No’ leaves laws unchanged.”

What it Really Means: Proposal 4 would make it harder to hold police accountable and would hurt New Yorkers. Proposal 4 would fundamentally change how laws regulating the Police Department, Fire Department, and Department of Correction – and ONLY these agencies – are passed by the New York City Council. It would create special rights for the NYPD in the legislative process that will help abusive officers avoid accountability and transparency at a time when there are serious concerns about possible corruption and influence-peddling by top officials and others in the NYPD. Prop 4 could make it virtually impossible to pass ANY meaningful police transparency or accountability legislation at the city level. This makes all of us less safe.

PROPOSAL 5:

Capital Planning

🚫 NKD RECOMMENDS VOTING NO 🚫

Proposal Language: “This proposal would amend the City Charter to require more detail in the annual assessment of City facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines. Voting ‘Yes’ would require more detail when assessing the maintenance needs of City facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines. Voting ‘No’ leaves laws unchanged.”

What it Really Means: Proposal 5 is a meaningless attempt at improving the city’s capital planning process. This proposal is misleading and was created in bad faith. The mayor’s charter commission claimed that Proposal 5 was based on a recommendation from the city’s Comptroller (the city’s top financial executive) – but the Comptroller issued a statement saying this was false and that it was a “transparently false attempt to lend credibility to a meaningless measure.” The proposal covers less than 1% of the city’s infrastructure. The Comptroller has said that Prop 5 “is meaningless, does not advance transparency, and fails to improve the City’s capital planning process in any way.”

PROPOSAL 6:

Minority And Women-Owned Business Enterprises (Mwbes), Film Permits, And Archive Review Boards

🚫 NKD RECOMMENDS VOTING NO 🚫

Proposal Language: “This proposal would amend the City Charter to establish the Chief Business Diversity Officer (CBDO), authorize the Mayor to designate the office that issues film permits, and combine archive boards. Voting ‘Yes’ would establish the CBDO to support MWBEs, authorize the Mayor to designate the office that issues film permits, and combine two boards. Voting ‘No’ leaves laws unchanged.”

What it Really Means: Proposal 6 is an empty reform with no real substance. Proposal 6 is a collection of 3 totally unrelated issues and should not be on the ballot. While it claims to support Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), the reality is that it simply renames and largely restates the role of a mayoral office. This gives the illusion of change without additional concrete support for MWBEs. The other two unrelated things that Prop 6 would do are combine two archive boards and grant additional powers to a mayoral office for issuing film permits. This proposal is part of a package of proposals that were rubber-stamped in Mayor Adams’ politically-motivated, rushed charter revision process – and the full package should be rejected.

Learn More: nopowergrabnyc.org 

THE RACES

New Kings Democrats works to reform the Democratic Party to make it more transparent, inclusive, and accessible. That typically means supporting and electing progressive candidates who have the support of the grassroots and are steeped in their communities.

But that electoral support looks different in the Primary and General Elections. In the General Election, it is essential that we vote for and support Democrats – even the centrist ones.

PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT

KAMALA HARRIS + TIM WALZ

[DEMOCRATIC & WORKING FAMILIES LINES]

In August 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. During her career, she has served as the District Attorney of San Francisco, the Attorney General of California, a U.S. Senator, and the Vice President of the United States. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and dismantled federal abortion rights in its disastrous 2022 Dobbs decision, Vice President Harris has driven the Biden Administration’s strategy to defend reproductive freedom and safeguard the privacy of patients and providers. If she wins in November, she will become the first female U.S. president, second Black U.S. president, and first U.S. president of South Asian descent. Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach, is best known for instituting universal free school lunches, lowering the cost of insulin, eliminating junk fees, and protecting abortion rights.

As this race approaches the finish line, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are neck-and-neck with Republican and anti-abortion former president Donald Trump and Ohio-based U.S. Senator J.D. Vance. Don’t let the backward-looking, fascistic Trump-Vance ticket win and usher in the draconian, antidemocratic agenda outlined in Project 2025. It is essential that we all turn out and vote for Vice President Harris and Governor Walz even while demanding more from their platform on the human rights of Palestinians and those seeking asylum at the southern border of the United States. Our neighbors across the state and the country – those at the highest risk of discrimination under an emboldened Trump regime – are counting on us.

Note that if you vote for Harris on the Working Families (WFP) line, your vote will count the same but will also help the WFP maintain their ballot line and their organizing power in future elections. The WFP needs 130,000 or 2% of total votes – whichever is greater – to keep their line.

Learn more: https://kamalaharris.com/ 

Opponents: Donald Trump + J.D. Vance [Republican & Conservative lines]

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES

The Civil Division of the Supreme Court in New York State has jurisdiction over civil cases with no limitations on the monetary value. For example, if a construction worker dies on a construction site, their family may sue the contractor for unsafe working conditions in the Supreme Court. The New York City Supreme Court also has a Criminal Division for hearing felony-level criminal cases.

The number of Supreme Court justices in each district is fixed in the New York State Judiciary Law. There are 49 Supreme Court justices in Brooklyn. Seven judges will be elected in the November election. Only seven candidates appear on the ballot, meaning the decision to elect these seven folks has effectively been made for us already by our local party leaders.

Supreme Court seats in Brooklyn are countywide, meaning they are elected to serve all of Kings County or Brooklyn. The State Constitution creates a unique and indirect method for selecting which Democratic candidates for the Supreme Court will appear on the general election ballot, using a nominating convention rather than a standard primary election. Read about the problematic judicial system in New York here and in our 2019 explainer, A Fair Shot: The County Party and Judicial Elections in Brooklyn.

Although seven judicial candidates are on the ballot for seven positions, you should read about these candidates here.  

CIVIL COURT JUSTICES

The Civil Court of the City of New York handles lawsuits involving monetary claims for damages up to $50,000. For example, if a dry cleaner destroys $500 worth of your clothes, you can sue them in Civil Court to try to recoup the loss. Civil Court also presides over cases related to housing, specifically landlord-tenant matters and maintenance of housing standards. Judges elected to the Civil Court often are assigned to the Criminal, Family, and Supreme Court instead of serving their term in Civil Court, so these judges hold a lot of power over the everyday Brooklynites who appear in their courtrooms.

Civil Court judges are elected directly by the electorate to 10-year terms. There are 28 Civil Court justices in Brooklyn, and these seats can be either countywide or municipal-specific. The Brooklyn Democratic Party leadership tends to limit competition for Civil Court seats and will support only one candidate per seat. The result is that the ballot does not offer any meaningful choice.

Six judges will be elected in the current election for countywide Civil Court seats, and four will be elected for municipal Civil Court seats. Only six judges will appear on the ballot for the Civil Court of New York for the County of Kings (Brooklyn). The additional four will appear on the ballot only in certain municipal districts (5 and 6). These races are generally decided in the primary, but if you have a choice on your ballot, we recommend voting for the judges running as Democrats.

U.S. SENATOR

The U.S. Senate is the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress. The U.S. Senate and the lower chamber of the Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives, comprise the federal bicameral legislature of the United States. Together, the Senate and the House have the authority under Article One of the U.S. Constitution to pass or defeat federal legislation. The Senate has exclusive power to confirm U.S. presidential appointments to high offices, approve or reject treaties, and try cases of impeachment brought by the House. Each state has two U.S. Senators for a total of 100 members of the U.S. Senate.

KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND

DEMOCRATIC & WORKING FAMILIES LINES | INCUMBENT

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has served as the junior United States senator from New York since 2009. During her time in the Senate, she has advocated for paid family leave, passed the 9/11 health bill to support first responders, and reformed the military justice system on behalf of service members. A prolific fundraiser for Democratic candidates and the second female U.S. Senator from New York, she has focused on encouraging and supporting women to run for office.

Learn more: https://kirstengillibrand.com/ 

Challengers: Michael D. Sapraicone [Republican & Conservative lines]; Diane Sare [LaRouche line]

U.S. MEMBER OF CONGRESS

The U.S. Congress is composed of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The U.S. House of Representatives is considered the lower chamber of Congress and currently has 435 members. As one-half of the federal lawmaking body for the United States, the House serves as a check and balance to the Executive Branch. Brooklyn’s congressional districts are numbered 7 through 11. Click here to find your congressional district.

Alongside the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives is responsible for:

Members of Congress serve two-year terms with no term limits.  

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT NY-07

Encompasses the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Greenpoint, Williamsburg, and Bushwick as well as several neighborhoods in Manhattan and Queens.

NYDIA VELÁZQUEZ

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT

✅ NKD has proudly endorsed Representative Velázquez in the past

Representative Nydia Velázquez is La Luchadora: the leader and inspiration for so many progressive politicians and groups across New York. She is authentic and passionate about reform and fighting for those who are underrepresented and underserved. Representative Velázquez’s record speaks for itself. Learn more about her in Gothamist’s article, “The Low-Key Matriarch Cultivating Brooklyn’s Progressive Movement.”

New Kings Democrats has proudly endorsed Representative Velázquez many times in the past.

Learn more: reelectnydiavelazquez.com

Challenger: Bill Kregler [Republican and Conservative]

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT NY-08

The NY-08 Congressional District encompasses the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Coney Island, Gravesend, Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach, Bergen Beach, Canarsie, East New York, Brownsville, Ocean Hill, East Flatbush, and Bedford-Stuyvesant as well as portions of neighborhoods in Queens.

HAKEEM JEFFRIES

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has been in the House of Representatives since 2013 and became Minority Leader in January 2023. He is focused on affordable housing, education, criminal justice, and jobs. If Democrats flip the House of Representatives in November, Minority Leader Jeffries will become the first Black Speaker of the House in U.S. history.

Learn more: hakeemjeffries.com

Challenger: John J. Delaney [Republican and Conservative]

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT NY-09

The NY-09 Congressional District encompasses the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Flatbush, Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Midwood, Flatlands, Kensington, and Mapleton.

YVETTE CLARKE

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT

Representative Clarke is a longtime leader from central Brooklyn. She is a Senior Member of both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Committee on Homeland Security. Clarke has been a member of the Congressional Black Caucus since coming to Congress in 2007 and today chairs its Immigration Task Force. She also founded and co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls.

Learn more: voteyvette.com

Challenger: Menachem Raitport [Republican and Conservative]

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT NY-10

Congressional District 10 includes neighborhoods in lower Manhattan and western Brooklyn. In Brooklyn, the district encompasses Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Cobble Hill, Red Hook, Gowanus, Prospect Heights, Park Slope, and Sunset Park, as well as portions of Borough Park and Bay Ridge, and all of Prospect Park.

New Kings Democrats, with partner clubs Lambda Independent Democrats, South Central Brooklyn United for Progress, Brooklyn Young Democrats, and Equality New York, hosted a forum for candidates in the NY-10 district in July 2022, when it was a new district created as a result of redistricting and therefore lacked an incumbent. Following a competitive and contentious open primary election in August 2022, the district is now represented by Dan Goldman.

DANIEL GOLDMAN

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT

Representative Dan Goldman was the lead Democratic counsel in Donald Trump’s first impeachment. A centrist Democrat, Goldman is particularly focused on Republican efforts to undermine our democracy. Dan Goldman is the Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Working Group of the Congressional Dads Caucus and the Vice Chair of the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

Learn more: dangoldmanforny.com 

Challengers: Alexander Dodenhoff [Republican]; Paul J. Briscoe [Conservative]

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT NY-11

The NY-11 Congressional District encompasses the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Bensonhurst in Brooklyn as well as all of Staten Island.

ANDREA S. MORSE

DEMOCRAT

📣  Turn up + Turn out!  📣

Andrea Morse is a third-generation Staten Islander, a small business owner, and a strong supporter of union labor. She wants to lower the age of Medicare eligibility to 55 and provide a public option to compete with the private insurance market to ensure universal coverage. Andrea Morse is a staunch advocate for reproductive freedom.

It is imperative that Democrats turn out to support Andrea. Nicole Malliotakis is a dangerous, Trump-supporting, anti-abortion representative doing nothing to protect the diverse New Yorkers that make up the district.

Learn more: andreamorseforcongress.com 

Opponent: Nicole Malliotakis [Republican and Conservative] [incumbent]

Representative Malliotakis beat former Congress Member Max Rose in 2020 after his first term in office. She is a strong supporter of former president Trump and objected to election results in Pennsylvania and Arizona, even after the January 6 insurrection. She regularly spreads racist lies about immigrant newcomers in her district.

STATE SENATE

The New York State Legislature is composed of two houses: the Senate and the Assembly. The Senate is considered the upper chamber of the Legislature and currently has 63 seats. Each seat is up for election every two years. Senators’ primary responsibility is to draft and approve changes to the laws of New York State.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 17

Includes all or part of the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Kensington. This Senate seat is the first in Brooklyn’s history where Asian voters, at 49%, have a plurality of the vote. 

IWEN CHU

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT

📣  Turn up + Turn out!  📣

State Senator Iwen Chu is Brooklyn’s first Asian-American state elected official and the first female Asian State Senator in New York. She chairs the State Senate’s Libraries Committee and has focused her first term in the state legislature on education, adult literacy, housing, environmental, and gender equality issues. A public school mom and CUNY grad, Iwen fought for the Empire State Child Tax Credit, backed the effort to fully fund public schools, and secured a record $30 million in state budget funding for AAPI communities in partnership with the AAPI Equity Budget Coalition.

Turnout will be critical in Iwen’s race. In 2022, she had to outrun Governor Kathy Hochul at the top of the ticket by a wide margin to capture the seat, defeating her anti-immigrant Republican opponent by just 534 votes out of nearly 38,000 cast. She is expected to face an extremely close race again this November.

Learn more: https://iwenchu.com/ 

Challenger: Steve Chan [Republican and Conservative]

Steve Chan is a former PTA president, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and longtime police officer who retired as an NYPD Sergeant in 2020. His priorities include fighting “the crime coming out of Albany,” repealing bail reform, and opposing homeless shelters in his district.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 18

Encompasses the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bushwick, Cypress Hills, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg, with parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, East New York, and Ridgewood, Queens.

JULIA SALAZAR

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

✅ NKD has proudly endorsed Senator Salazar in the past

State Senator Julia Salazar is running unopposed, though it is as important as ever to turn out and vote for this fearless progressive leader, who passed a version of the Good Cause Eviction law as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 state enacted budget. NKD previously endorsed Senator Salazar in 2018 and 2020.

Learn more: https://www.salazarforsenate.com/ 

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 19

Includes Canarsie, Cypress Hills, East New York, Brownsville, Lindenwood, Ocean Hill, Starrett City, and portions of Howard Beach.

ROXANNE PERSAUD

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

State Senator Roxanne Persaud was elected to the State Senate in November 2015 after serving in the State Assembly. She is also a District Leader in Assembly District 59 (although she does not live in that district) and aligned with the leadership of the Kings County Democratic Party.

Learn more: https://roxannepersaud.com/ 

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 20

Includes Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and Windsor Terrace.

ZELLNOR MYRIE

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

✅ NKD has proudly endorsed Senator Myrie in the past

State Senator Zellnor Myrie is a champion on issues ranging from gun safety and criminal justice to voting rights and abortion rights to health care and affordable housing. The chair of the State Senate’s Committee on Elections, his major legislative accomplishments include passing the New York State John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the Clean Slate Act, and a law protecting elderly homeowners and homeowners of color from deed theft. In 2021, Senator Myrie wrote the nation’s first gun industry accountability law, allowing civil suits in state court against reckless and irresponsible gun companies. In 2024, he passed a law that will allow banks to detect and deter suspicious gun purchasing patterns. NKD previously endorsed Senator Myrie in 2018.

Learn more: https://www.zellnor.nyc/ 

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 21

Encompasses all or parts of Kensington, Flatbush, Flatlands, Georgetown, Bergen Beach, and Marine Park.

KEVIN PARKER

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

State Senator Kevin Parker was first elected to the State Senate in 2002. A darling of the problematic Brooklyn political machine, Parker is known for angry, violent outbursts and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 22

Includes all or parts of Borough Park, Midwood, Homecrest, Sheepshead Bay, Gerritsen Beach, and Marine Park.

Simcha Felder

DEMOCRATIC, REPUBLICAN, CONSERVATIVE | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

Simcha Felder runs as a Democrat but caucuses with Republicans in the State Senate, and for a time helped them maintain control of that chamber.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 23

Encompasses Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Seagate, and the North Shore of Staten Island.

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT

 📣  Turn up + Turn out! 📣

State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton previously served as a government affairs representative with the MTA and as the Chief of Staff to Diane Savino, who formerly held the seat and endorsed Scarcella-Spanton in 2022. She chairs the State Senate’s Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs. Senator Scarcella-Spanton centers fighting for safer and more affordable communities in her platform. Universal childcare is a top priority.

Learn more: https://www.jessicafornewyork.com/ 

Challenger: Marko Kepi [Republican]

Marko Kepi is a member of the U.S. Marine Corps who got his start in Republican politics as an intern on Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s Presidential campaign and has since worked for former state senator Marty Golden. According to Kepi’s website, his top priorities include “tough-on-crime policies,” “parental rights,” and “ending sanctuary city status.”

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 25

Encompasses Clinton Hill, Navy Yard, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Ocean Hill, and parts of Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, and Brownsville.

Jabari Brisport

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

State Senator Jabari Brisport is in his second term in the State Senate and has continued to fight for the progressive values he espoused as a candidate. Senator Brisport is a third-generation Caribbean-American Brooklynite, the first openly gay person of color ever elected to the New York legislature, and a former public school teacher. The chair of the State Senate’s Children and Families Committee, Senator Brisport has introduced legislation for universal childcare and fought for the funding, services, and policies that New Yorkers need to survive and thrive.

Learn more: https://jabariforstatesenate.com/ 

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 26

Encompasses Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Vinegar Hill, and DUMBO.

Andrew Gounardes

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT

State Senator Andrew Gounardes is a well-regarded leader in the 26th State Senate District, known for bridging political differences in the district while also maintaining a consistently progressive voting record in the State Senate. He was first elected in 2018, beating longtime Republican incumbent Marty Golden.

Senator Gounardes has represented a deeply complex and diverse district and will continue doing so if reelected in District 26. He has balanced competing priorities by continuing to focus on making landmark investments in CUNY, advocating for innovative ways to improve street safety, combatting sexual harassment, and supporting the state’s public workforce. In 2024, working alongside New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Senator Gounardes passed landmark child internet safety legislation.

Learn more:

Challenger: Vito J. LaBella [Republican and Conservative]

Vito LaBella is a former police officer who cofounded Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum Education (PLACE NYC). PLACE NYC is best known for employing racist language to oppose changes to admissions policies that would have allowed more Black and brown students to attend elite schools. In more recent years, prominent members of PLACE NYC have supported book bans and endangered transgender youth. Vito was Iwen Chu’s opponent in the 2022 general election but apparently preferred to run in a different state senate district this year. Although his current campaign website does not outline his policy platform, his top priorities during his 2022 race included “ending cashless bail” and “restoring freedom and choice.”

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 59

A triborough district spanning Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. Neighborhoods in the district include Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, Astoria and Long Island City in Queens, and Stuyvesant Town, Kips Bay, and Murray Hill in Manhattan.

Kristen Gonzalez

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

Kristen Gonzalez is a former tech worker and community organizer, born and raised in a working-class family in Queens. The youngest woman ever elected to the New York State Senate and the Chair of the State Senate’s Internet and Technology Committee, during her first term in office, she passed legislation protecting our state’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks and helped safeguard the right to an abortion by protecting private health data. Senator Gonzalez is progressive and practical. Her platform prioritizes reimagining housing, ushering in a green New York, and restoring healthcare.

Learn more: gonzalezforny.com

STATE ASSEMBLY

The New York State Legislature is composed of two houses: the Senate and the Assembly. The Assembly is considered the lower chamber of the Legislature and there are 150 seats. Each seat is up for election every two years and there are no term limits.

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 41

Includes the neighborhoods of Sheepshead Bay, Flatlands, parts of East Flatbush, Midwood, and Canarsie.

KALMAN YEGER

DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, AND CONSERVATIVE | UNCONTESTED

Kalman Yeger is a conservative Democrat who currently represents the 44th District in the New York City Council. He chaired the Council’s Committee on Standards and Ethics in the 2022-23 term but does not currently chair a committee. He is a member of the Council’s Common-Sense Caucus, which comprises that body’s Republicans and conservative Democrats. Before running for office, he worked as a community liaison and political aide for a series of city politicians, including former Council Member Lloyd Henry, former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer, and former Council Member David Greenfield.

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 42

Includes the neighborhoods of East Flatbush, Flatbush, Ditmas Park, and Midwood.

RODNEYSE BICHOTTE

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn has served as Assemblymember since 2015. She serves as the New York State Assembly Majority Whip and Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). She also serves on the following committees: Housing, Education, Governmental Operations, Health, Higher Education, and Ways & Means.

Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn is also the Chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. In her role as chair, she has consolidated institutional power and blocked basic reforms. Notably, Rodneyse has been one of the only elected officials to defend Mayor Eric Adams following his recent indictments for bribery, campaign finance, and conspiracy offenses.

Learn more: https://www.rodneysebichotte.net/ 

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 43

Includes the neighborhoods of Crown Heights and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.

BRIAN CUNNINGHAM

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 44

Includes the neighborhoods of Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Borough Park, Victorian Flatbush, Ditmas Park, and Midwood.

ROBERT (BOBBY) C. CARROLL

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT

📣  Turn up + Turn out!  📣

NKD has proudly endorsed Assemblymember Carroll in the past

Challenger: John L. Bennett [Republican and Conservative]

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 45

Includes the neighborhoods of Midwood, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Gravesend, and Sheepshead Bay.

JOEY COHEN-SABAN

DEMOCRAT

Joey Cohen Saban is a longtime member of the Sephardic Syrian Jewish community in Southern Brooklyn who works at his family’s real-estate firm and is a member of the Sephardic Community Federation. He wants to better represent the district’s heavily Jewish communities of Southern Brooklyn. As such, he attempted (and ultimately failed) to create a new “Pro-Israel” party to aid in his campaign and allow voters to show their support for Israel. Other issues that Saban supports include toughening penalties for hate crimes, reduced-cost and enhanced access to social services for seniors, expanding school options and 3K and pre-K, and increasing housing affordability. He has circulated a petition to forbid the use of schools to temporarily house immigrant newcomers. Saban has accused his Republican opponent of being a stealth anti-Israel, anti-Jewish socialist due to his opponent’s documented historical support of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who is Jewish.

Learn more: https://www.joeysaban.com/ 

Opponent: Michael Novakhov [Republican and Conservative] [incumbent]

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 46

Includes the neighborhoods of Coney Island and Sea Gate, plus parts of Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Brighton Beach, Dyker Heights, and Gravesend.

CHRIS MCCREIGHT

DEMOCRAT

📣 Turn up + Turn out!  📣

NKD endorsed Chris McCreight’s campaign for District Leader in June 2024

Chris McCreight is a former small business owner who currently works as Chief of Staff to Council Member Justin Brannan and is a Brooklyn Can’t Wait-endorsed Democratic District Leader for Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Coney Island, Brighton Beach, and Sea Gate. Prior to working for the City Council, Chris worked as a Communications and Policy Director in the New York State Assembly. He will fight to raise wages, protect reproductive rights, and stand up for students and teachers. He is endorsed by the Bay Ridge Democrats, Seaside Independent Democrats, Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, New York State United Teachers, NYC District Council of Carpenters, and 32BJ SEIU as well as U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Learn more: https://www.chrismccreight.com/ 

Opponent: Alec Brook-Krasny [Republican and Conservative] [incumbent], who changed parties in 2022 to challenge former Assemblymember Mathylde Frontus. He says there is a “crime wave overcoming our city.” He voted against the New York Equal Rights Amendment, which, if passed on the November ballot, will enshrine abortion rights and protect our freedoms in the New York State Constitution. Don’t reelect this fearmonger.

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 47

Includes the neighborhood of Bath Beach.

WILLIAM COLTON

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT

Challenger: David Sepiashvili [Republican]

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 48

Includes the neighborhood of Borough Park as well as portions of Midwood.

SIMCHA EICHENSTEIN 

DEMOCRAT AND CONSERVATIVE | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 49

Includes parts of the neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and New Utrecht.

LESTER CHANG 

REPUBLICAN AND CONSERVATIVE | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

There will be no Democratic candidate on the ballot in this district in the general election in 2024. As part of a petition challenge, Kings County Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn shared information with Republican operatives to disqualify the Democratic candidate, former Assemblymember Peter Abbate, from appearing on the ballot.

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 50

Includes the neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

EMILY GALLAGHER

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

📣  Turn up + Turn out!  📣

NKD has proudly endorsed progressive champion Assemblymember Emily Gallagher several times in the past, including in this year’s primary election.

Since taking office, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher has fought to address New York’s deep inequality and dire housing crisis while accelerating the state’s transition to renewable energy. In her first term, she helped pass a historic budget that raised taxes on the wealthy to secure the biggest state investment in public education in generations, and secured more than $115 million for local parks and safe streets in North Brooklyn. In the 2023 session, she led the charge on two first-in-the-nation policies: the All-Electric Buildings Act to phase out fossil gas hookups in new construction, and the LLC Transparency Act to unmask anonymous shell companies operating with impunity in New York. Emily has delivered billions of dollars in relief to tenants, workers, and small businesses. In 2024, she introduced a bill to create the Social Housing Development Authority, which would build housing directly instead of relying on private developers.

Learn more: https://www.emilyforassembly.com/ 

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 51

Includes the neighborhoods of Red Hook and Sunset Park, as well as parts of Park Slope.

MARCELA MITAYNES

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT

Challenger: Erik S. Frankel [Republican and Conservative]

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 52

Includes the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, and DUMBO.

JO ANNE SIMON

DEMOCRAT AND WORKING FAMILIES | INCUMBENT

✅ NKD has proudly endorsed Assemblymember Simon in the past

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon has represented Assembly District 52 since 2015. In addition to her role in the State Assembly, she is a disability civil rights attorney. Jo Anne is actively engaged in working to reform the Brooklyn Democratic Party. Her career and legislation have focused on gender equity, gun violence prevention, education, and campaign finance reform.

Learn more: https://simonforbrooklyn.com/ 

Challenger: Brett Wynkoop [Conservative]

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 53

Includes the neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Bushwick.

MARITZA DAVILA

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

📣  Turn up + Turn out!  📣

NKD proudly endorsed Assemblymember Davila for District Leader, a position she also holds in the district, in 2022.

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 54

Includes the neighborhoods of Bushwick and Cypress Hills.

ERIK DILAN

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 55

Includes the neighborhoods of Ocean Hill and Brownsville.

LATRICE WALKER

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT

Born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Assemblymember Latrice Walker is an advocate for voting rights, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, affordable housing, and tenants’ rights. A lawyer by trade, she has served as counsel to U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke. She has also represented in court city residents fighting the NYPD’s Stop and Frisk policy as well as NYCHA tenants fighting eviction. She is a member of the Ways and Means, Housing, Women’s Issues, and Judiciary Committees, among others, and she is the Chair of the Committee on Election Law. Assemblymember Walker has sponsored legislation that restores voting rights to individuals with felony convictions and protects the rights of Mitchell-Lama residents. Her major legislative accomplishments include passing the New York State John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

Learn more: https://linktr.ee/thereallatricewalker 

Challenger: Berneda W. Jackson [Republican and Conservative]

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 56

Includes the neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights.

STEFANI L. ZINERMAN 

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman has represented Assembly District 56 since 2021. Prior to her election to the New York State Assembly, she worked in local and state government, beginning as Chief of Staff for the 36th Council District for five years before moving into the role of Director of Special Projects for State Senator Velmanette Montgomery. During her time in office, Assemblymember Zinerman has focused on education equity, economic development, voting rights, housing, and health equity. She has identified housing as the major issue facing Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights residents but opposes Good Cause Eviction protections. She is the Assembly Chair of the Committee on Emerging Workforce.

Learn more: https://www.zinermanfor56ad.com/ 

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 57

Includes the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Crown Heights.

PHARA SOUFFRANT FORREST

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 58

Includes the neighborhoods of Brownsville, East Flatbush, and Canarsie.

MONIQUE CHANDLER WATERMAN

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman is a former activist, advocate, and educator born and raised in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. She is the co-founder of East Flatbush Village, a nonprofit providing youth services to the local community, and has also been a Civilian Advisor for the NYPD’s 67th Precinct. She serves on the Small Business, Mental Health, Children and Families, and Higher Education Committees, among others. Her legislative agenda includes advocating for affordable housing, tenant protections, gun violence, and equity in education.

Learn more: https://moniqueforny.com/ 

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 59

Includes the neighborhoods of Canarsie and Bergen Beach.

JAIME R. WILLIAMS

DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, AND CONSERVATIVE | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

Jaime Williams is a former social worker and counselor who immigrated to New York City from Trinidad and Tobago. She is a past member of Community Board 18, and served as Community Project Director for Brooklyn East at Catholic Charities after Hurricane Sandy. She joined the Assembly in 2016 and serves as the Chair of the Committee on Real Property Taxation and the Committee on Emergency Response/Disaster Preparation. She also sits on the Committees on Environmental Protection, Women’s Issues, Agriculture, and Transportation, among others. Williams has also served as Second Vice-Chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party and is generally aligned with party leadership.

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 60

Includes the neighborhood of East New York.

NIKKI LUCAS

DEMOCRAT | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

Assemblymember Nikki Lucas is a former activist and management consultant who joined the Assembly in 2022, succeeding Charles Barron. A former candidate for the New York City Council, she serves on the Committees on Aging, Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry, Energy, Labor, and Housing. She has sponsored legislation requiring gun owners to obtain liability insurance and addressing utility rates for low-income residents, senior citizens, and disabled residents. Lucas also serves as a Democratic District Leader in the 60th Assembly District and is generally aligned with Brooklyn Democratic Party leadership.

ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 64

Includes the neighborhood of Bay Ridge as well as parts of Staten Island.

MICHAEL TANNOUSIS

REPUBLICAN AND CONSERVATIVE | INCUMBENT | UNCONTESTED

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