Keith Wright is passing his knowledge to the next generation

Politics has been in Manhattan Democratic Party boss Keith Wright’s family for many years. His father, Bruce Wright, was a state Supreme Court justice. And who might continue his legacy of service? Keith Wright’s son is now following a similar path in politics. Plus, this list includes other people who Wright has mentored over the years, passing on his vast political knowledge.

Jordan Wright

First is his son, Jordan Wright. He is running this year for Assembly District 70, a seat his father previously held for 24 years. In June, Wright won the Democratic primary against four competitors and spoke with the Columbia Daily Spectator after his win: “I always knew that my life’s work would lead to serving my community and to have realized that dream tonight means the world to me.”

Yusef Salaam

Being one of the Exonerated Five who was wrongly convicted in the 1989 Central Park jogger rape case, Yusef Salaam made headlines last year after being elected to the New York City Council in Harlem. Wright urged Salaam to run for the seat, and his son Jordan served as Salaam’s campaign manager.

Eddie Gibbs

A close ally to Wright, Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs was victorious in the June Democratic primary for District 68. His political career began in 2017 after being elected as a district leader in East Harlem. In 2022, Gibbs founded the Second Chance Democratic Club, which emphasizes its support of formerly incarcerated individuals looking to get into politics. Gibbs is notably the first former incarcerated person elected into the state Legislature.

Brian Benjamin

Brian Benjamin, the former lieutenant governor to Gov. Kathy Hochul, is currently battling the bribery and fraud charges that caused him to resign from the state’s No. 2 post. Kramer Levin, which is representing Benjamin, recently filed a petition for a writ of certiorari for Benjamin’s case to be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court. But Benjamin came up through Harlem politics as a state senator with close ties to Wright.