DNC invests in battleground NY congressional races

The Democratic National Committee is set to announce a new six-figure investment into the state Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign to help mobilize Puerto Rican voters in key swing districts, City & State has learned. 

The DNC is infusing $100,000 into the state Democratic Party to aid in its efforts to flip five House seats and protect two vulnerable Democratic incumbents. Specifically, the money is meant to help engage Puerto Rican voters in the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 22nd Congressional Districts, where Democrats and Republicans alike are working to either protect freshmen members or oust them.

 New York has a singular relationship with Puerto Rico due to its historically large Puerto Rican population in New York City – although that community has shrunk in recent years. New York City sent the first ever Puerto Rican man to Congress when voters elected former Rep. Herman Badillo in 1970, and the first Puerto Rican woman when they elected Rep. Nydia Velázquez in 1992. And New York politicos from around the state still visit Puerto Rico every year for the annual Somos conference. But Republicans have made inroads with the broader Hispanic and Latino community in the U.S. and data suggests that those voters are beginning to trend rightwards, particularly during this current presidential race.

“The DNC is committed to electing Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz, and ensuring Democrats have the resources to run competitive races across the map in red and blue states alike,” DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said. “The investment we’re announcing today in the New York Democratic Party shows these priorities in action.” The $100,000 in New York is part of a bigger $2.5 million investment in states across the country. The DNC previously sent $25,000 to New York in support of Rep. Tom Suozzi during his February special election on Long Island.

The state Democratic Party this year is running a largely unprecedented coordinated campaign alongside House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to support congressional candidates. Although common in other states, the Democratic organization in New York had never done anything of the sort before. So far, that campaign has opened more than 30 offices around the state, hired over 80 people to staff them and attracted thousands of volunteers. And increasing Latino voter turnout in battleground areas like the Hudson Valley has been a major focus of the coordinated campaign and organizers.

“New York Democrats are grateful for this investment from the DNC to support our efforts to turn out voters in every community,” said state Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs. “Over the next 40 days, we’ll be connecting with New Yorkers across the state, ensuring Kamala Harris and Democrats down ballot win in November.”