WFP unveils incumbent endorsements in NYC council and beep races

The New York Working Families Party is unveiling its first round of endorsements Wednesday in June’s New York City Council races  – and a few boroughwide contests – with a slate of incumbents, including several facing strong challengers. 

“We wanted to start with the incumbents … to make a very clear point, which is that there are people right now in the City Council, in the borough presidents’ offices, in the district attorneys’ offices, that are the kind of leaders that New Yorkers need right now,” said state WFP Co-Director Ana María Archila.

Over at Bronx Borough Hall, the WFP is backing Borough President Vanessa Gibson over City Council Member Rafael Salamanca, who is term-limited at the end of the year and is vying for Gibson’s job. In addition to saying Gibson has been a “champion for working families” and “a steady ally” for the party, Archila also noted that Gibson is one of few women in boroughwide office, and said that supporting women leaders is a priority. Asked about the choice not to back Salamanca specifically, Archila said of the Council Land Use Committee chair, “Salamanca has been someone very beholden to real estate interests for years, and he has actively pushed for development in his district in a way that has endeared him to REBNY.”  

Archila said Pierina Sanchez, whom the WFP is also endorsing, is “leading many of the fights around making housing affordable for the City of New York.” It’s that logic that may make the WFP’s decision to endorse Council Member Chris Marte puzzling to some, as the lawmaker has gotten heat from housing advocates in the district and opposed the City of Yes housing plan last year. Asked about those YIMBY critiques, Archila said, “Sometimes these fights are actually really hard fights – we live in a blue city, but it's not blue for the issues that matter to the poorest New Yorkers. Sometimes the poorest New Yorkers actually have the hardest time getting their voices heard, and it is notable that despite the opposition … he has (waded) into these difficult waters with a lot of commitment, and that is a remarkable sort of leadership quality.” She pointed to Marte’s advocacy for homecare workers as an example of his defense of working-class people. 

Archila also noted that Marte, along with Council Member Shaun Abreu, are receiving the WFP’s endorsement for the first time this year. 

The WFP is throwing its weight behind Council Members Shahana Hanif and Alexis Avilés once again, both of whom are facing challenges from the right in Maya Kornberg and Ling Ye, respectively. Archila highlighted both lawmakers’ work supporting the city’s immigrants, both having spent time chairing the council’s Immigration Committee. 

In a tight race, the WFP endorsement is a win for Hanif. But according to Archila, Kornberg – who has branded herself as a “pragmatic progressive” in the contest – did not apply for the party’s endorsement. Kornberg did not immediately respond to a request for comment on that. 

With the new slate, the WFP is endorsing the entire City Council Progressive Caucus – with the notable exception of Southeast Queens Council Member Nantasha Williams. Asked about that, Archila said Williams, too, did not apply for the party’s endorsement. “We’d love to build deeper and closer with Nantasha,” she said. Williams did not respond to an inquiry on the matter. 

The WFP, which is backing City Council Member Justin Brannan in the comptroller race, plans to announce additional endorsements for open council seats, as well as for mayor and public advocate, in the coming weeks. 

Here’s the full slate of current incumbent endorsements:

Alvin Bragg – Manhattan district attorney

Eric Gonzalez – Brooklyn district attorney

Antonio Reynoso – Brooklyn borough president

Vanessa Gibson – Bronx borough president

Chris Marte – City Council District 1

Shaun Abreu – City Council District 7

Carmen de La Rosa – City Council District 10

Pierina Sánchez – City Council District 14

Althea Stevens – City Council District 16

Amanda Farías – City Council District 18

Tiffany Cabán – City Council District 22

Shekar Krishnan – City Council District 25

Julie Won – City Council District 26

Lincoln Restler – City Council District 33

Jennifer Gutiérrez – City Council District 34

Crystal Hudson – City Council District 35

Chi Ossé – City Council District 36

Sandy Nurse – City Council District 37

Alexa Avilés – City Council District 38

Shahana Hanif – City Council District 39

Rita Joseph – City Council District 40