Opinion: The NY Working Families Party proves vital in 2024

Following a disastrous 2022 cycle, New York’s broad anti-MAGA forces united in 2024, bringing together unlikely partners. Under the banner of Battleground New York, our state’s leading labor unions, issue-based and community organizations showed up in force with a tight collaboration across six key House districts, defeating four Republicans and knocking on more than 750,000 doors along the way. New York Democrats’ ground operation also got a much-needed shot in the arm, and New York’s powerful Working Families Party played a central role as a co-founder and collaborator in both efforts.

You haven’t seen all those organizations rowing in the same direction in a very long time, maybe ever. Their commitment to the cause of blocking a MAGA majority in the House and doing our part for the nation was a winning formula for New York. Sadly, within hours of the election results, the goodwill began to crack, with key players in the New York Democratic Party blaming progressives for New York’s lurch right at the top of the ticket.

Instead of embracing the pronouncements of pundits who offer weak explanations for poor performance – rooted, of course, in what they already believed before Election Day – the Working Families Party team has spent much of the time since Nov. 5 analyzing the results before offering our sober assessment.

Democrats need to check their urge to punch left. Instead, they should take the time to understand the complex ways that voters engaged and think again about the powerful role the Working Families ballot line played across the state this cycle. 

New York’s unique “fusion” system, where the same candidate can run on more than one line and the votes are combined, is a huge asset. Over and over again, the WFP has made the difference in close races. That was the case for former Rep. Anthony Brindisi in the old 22nd Congressional District (Central New York) in 2018. That was also the case for Rep. Pat Ryan in his special election victory over Mark Molinaro in the old 19th Congressional District (Mid-Hudson Valley) in 2022 and then again in the general election that year. All three times, Democrats would not have been victorious without the votes they had received on the Working Families Party ballot line. 

In 2024, across 17 upstate counties, votes on the WFP line increased while votes on the Democratic line decreased. Rep.-elect Josh Riley defeated incumbent Marc Molinaro in the new NY-19 by just 7,997 votes. But in the biggest difference-maker yet, Riley received a whopping 21,948 votes on the WFP line, more than three times the margin of victory.

All across New York, 373,239 people cast their votes on the Working Families ballot line. That includes more than 10,000 votes on the WFP line for Paula Collins in New York’s North Country, where there may soon be a critical special election to replace Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. Meanwhile, Democrats in competitive seats on Long Island who were not on the WFP line saw little help from a made-up third party that lacked the brand and power of the Working Families Party.

Let's get real. Voters are looking for an alternative – a party they can see themselves a part of. Post-election, there seems to be universal agreement that the Democrats have work to do to reestablish themselves as a fighter for the working class. But the WFP has never stopped fighting for the multiracial working class voters from left to center, many of whom don’t trust the Democratic Party to stand up to the billionaire class and divisive fear-mongering. 

In 2026, Democrats face many decisions about how to win and what policies matter as they face a competitive gubernatorial race and critical midterm elections. Our advice? Recognize the value and power of the Working Families Party and its ballot line in New York politics and our crucial role in organizing voters and empowering elected officials to combat crushing economic inequality, fight for affordable housing, and high-quality public schools. Let's stop punching left and pointing fingers and instead win for working families.