Primary Election Challengers for New York State Legislative Seats to Incumbents: Do Your Job on #FairElections

Challengers: Legislature’s Silence as Commission Creates Weak Program and Attacks Fusion Voting Suggests Complicity; Legislators Should Call for Strong Law and Commit to Fix Final Recommendations, if Weak

NEW YORK, NY— A unique collaborative event organized by State Senate and Assembly primary challengers occurred this morning on the steps of City Hall to call on incumbents, including legislative leadership, to immediately speak out more forcefully in support of a strong small donor matching program for New York State, and to commit to fixing a weak New York State Public Campaign Financing Commission result, should that come to be. As the Commission nears the December 1 deadline to submit their legally binding recommendations, the challengers raised concerns about the Commission’s moves to advance weak public financing policy and their unnecessary continued focus on fusion voting and the weakening of third parties. The group was particularly critical of the State Legislature, which created the Commission and appointed the Commissioners, suggesting that the Legislature’s silence in the face of the Commission’s behavior can only be construed as opposition to meaningful reform.

The Commission will submit its recommendations at the end of the month and the Legislature has until December 22nd to “amend or abrogate” the Commission’s recommendations. Candidates made clear that “no one gets a pass” if the promised “model for the nation” public financing law is not crafted by December 22. 

"The Public Campaign Financing Commission is showing New Yorkers all that is wrong with Albany. New York’s sitting elected officials, including Assemblymember Dilan and legislative leadership, say they support public financing for New York State, yet they shirked their responsibility off to an unelected commission and are staying silent as that commission heads towards a weak result. It’s pure hypocrisy and an utter disgrace," said Boris Santos, a lead organizer of today's press event who is challenging Assemblymember Erik Dilan in the upcoming June primary. "As a former Senate staffer I can say firsthand that legalized bribery in Albany is alive and well and it impacts almost every issue New Yorkers care about from affordable housing to funding our schools. We need leaders who won’t just talk the talk when it comes to fixing New York’s joke of a campaign finance system but will also walk the walk. We’re here today to send a strong message that if the Legislature fails to deliver strong campaign finance reform this year, we won’t let them forget it." 

Democrat Josue "Josh" Pierre, Democratic District Leader and candidate for Senate in the 21st District, said, "Creating an effective small donor matching system and getting special interest money out of politics is simple. Just match all small contributions up to a set amount. All the other proposals the commission is considering, including attacking fusion, are about preventing real reform. It's time for legislators to say they won't accept fake reform designed to look good, but change nothing. Kevin Parker in particular has refused to support campaign finance reform because he wants to continue to depend on special interest money."

“Here we are for the umpteenth time battling with a commission charged with addressing an issue that should’ve been taken up by the State’s Legislative body. It should be our elected leaders voting on a clean piece of legislation that brings us a small dollar matching program.” Said Khaleel Anderson, candidate for Assembly District 31. “At a time when we should be expanding not suppressing voices within political spaces, this commission has proven antithetical to that very goal. Whether it’s threatening to ban fusion voting or limiting the match to contributions to within district, this commission is a reflection of what’s wrong with Albany today. And it’s time to fix it. Now! We are a group of young, capable, energized, activist, and community organizers gathered at City Hall today demanding that our leaders have the courage to give New Yorkers what we deserve: A public financing system that is free of corruption, expands the dollar of the little person, and protects our third party lines! Period!" 

"As a life-long resident of Fort Greene-Clinton Hill, I've seen our communities displaced from the damaging influence of private real estate and corporate interest money. We need to establish a small donor matching system that empowers our communities, emboldens our voices, and gives everyday New Yorkers a pathway to run for office. I’m proud to make public financing a priority in my campaign and have pledged not to accept any real estate developer or private corporate PAC money,” said Jason Salmon, candidate for State Senate District 25.

“This Commission has a mission to create a public financing system that works to amplify the voices of the people over big donors and open the door for qualified candidates to run for office. Instead, they appear poised to pass a weak public financing program more focused on protecting incumbents. Meanwhile members of the legislature, including my Assembly Member Catherine Nolan, and their leadership do nothing,” said Danielle Brecker, candidate for Assembly District 37. We need more than a passive commitment to progressive issues. We need assembly members to lead the charge and loudly commit to go back into session in December and work with the state senate to fix the commission's plan or pass the gold standard bill that already exists.”

"New Yorkers need campaign finance reforms that empower people and amplify their concerns, not ones that push them aside in favor of big-money donors and entrenched power - a voter who contributes $5 dollars is just as important as one who contributes $2,500, and we need to make sure their voice is heard loud and clear. A strong small-dollar matching program is a necessary tool in our work to change the culture in Albany," said Edwin Delgado, 

“The campaign finance system in New York State is broken. The influence and priorities of a small number of wealthy donors can overwhelm the needs and values of the majority of New Yorkers. This is a system that too often disenfranchises low income communities, and creates near-insurmountable hurdles for insurgent women of color candidates looking to represent their communities,” said Jessica González-Rojas, Candidate for New York State Assembly, District 34. “I am a strong advocate for robust public financing of campaigns, and call on my Assembly member to sign the letter stating that he supports fixing a weak Commission recommendation. If he cannot support common sense legislation that provides avenues for greater electoral participation, and accountability from our electeds, maybe it is time we elected someone willing to fight for these important reforms.” 

"The Public Campaign Financing Commission has a mission to create a system that levels the proverbial playing field, to amplify the purchase power of the people. Instead, Governor Cuomo, Speaker Heastie, and Leader Stewart-Cousins seem to have outsourced to them the work of political retribution targeting specifically the Working Families Party, but harming us all as collateral.  Fusion voting is a way for parties to participate in political life of the state. We must protect fusion voting from any ban. It is essential to fighting corruption and constructing a diverse and healthy field of candidates and ideas. I am an Adjunct lecturer and poet running for State Assembly on principle. I raise $3000 from 80 contributors all working people, that’s the equivalent of one check from a developer, or an insurance company or some fossil energy monster. I, on principle, refuse that money taken at the cost of our people and our displacement. As far as I can tell, the current campaign finance system, with its LLC and housekeeping loopholes, might as well be legalized bribery. How are regular people, taken by such spirit to mouthpiece on behalf of their communities, supposed to fight such staggering odds?" Asks Joey De Jesus, a poet, Adjunct Lecturer, and candidate for New York State Assembly District 38. "We fight regardless. We join together to demand New York State model the highest standard of campaign finance policy including a robust state-matching program and to protect fusion voting." 

“We are struggling here to get more people engaged in politics. We are about to rekindle the frozen democracy. Implementing public funding is supposed to encourage more candidates and voter participation. But eliminating the third parties and fusion voting from public funding will actually curtail the democratic spirit,” said Mary Jobaida who is running for Assembly District 37 against an incumbent of 34 years. 

“New Yorkers deserve a commitment to public financing and this legislature has the obligation to remove the barriers to political participation. We must stop the dependency on money from real estate and other special interest groups, which is blocking legislation that impacts everyday New Yorkers. June saw the passage of historic rent laws but it was bittersweet victory. The legislature failed to protect all tenants by not passing the Good Cause bill. We feel the effects of legislation handed down from Albany deeply and personally. The actions and inactions of out-of-touch lawmakers directly impact our families and communities for generations,” said Marcela Mitaynes, candidate for Assembly District 51.

“Lawmakers in Albany have the power right now to end the staggering amount of corporate influence in our politics,” said Sandy Nurse, co-founder of Mayday Space andchallenger to Assembly Member Erik Dilan. “Politicians like Erik Dilan have been courting and relying on large donations from real estate capital and special interests for years. It undermines our democracy, while people and families struggle. Public campaign financing will make it easier for Women of Color and grassroots leaders to take on political dynasties and finally address the needs of our communities. It’s past time for state legislators to put their money where their mouth is and show actual leadership on strengthening democracy in New York. I am honored to share this commitment to make state politics more accessible, inclusive, and transparent with many candidates running in 2020. I join others in calling on Dilan, and all electeds, to support true public campaign financing. If he won’t, there are many of us ready to take his place.” 

“This is about empowering people from historically disenfranchised communities to run for office,” said Jenifer Rajkumar, candidate for State Assembly challenging Michael Miller and running to become the first South Asian ever elected to the State Assembly. “New York has the opportunity to become a national model by reforming its campaign finance system. As a former ethics officer in New York State government, I know firsthand the importance of creating an Albany that works for all of us, not just the big donors. A public finance system based on matching small donations will allow candidates to focus on raising money from their constituents rather than from big donors outside the district. It is up to our state legislators to create a detailed plan that makes effective use of taxpayer dollars while at the same time empowering everyday New Yorkers.”

“The Public Campaign Financing Commission is a shameful example of the Democratic hypocrisy that is occurring in Albany,” says Phara Souffrant Forrest, a nurse, tenant organizer and candidate for Assembly District 57.  “As a black working class woman, I had hopes that the Commissions was going to create paths for people like me to get into state legislature and take profit interest out of Albany. But instead, The Commission being used and manipulated by our governor, Senate and Assembly leadership to benefit their need to maintain the status quo. I stand up for the public financing of campaigns and urge my Assemblyman to put all his efforts and political clout to push for more accountable representation. If he’s not willing to do it, it's time we replace him with someone who will.” 

“Talking to voters, showing up for our neighbors, organizing tenants and workers and families: this is what should determine the viability of a candidate for office. Not your ability to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars from powerful interests,” said Emily Gallagher, candidate for Assembly District 36.

"This isn't the first time the legislature has abdicated its duty to legislate. Cuomo's austerity budget in 2011 punted decisions on painful Medicaid cuts to an unelected commission so members could avoid taking unpopular votes to slash benefits. It's just another way that Albany is designed to shield incumbents from accountability," said Zohran Kwame-Mamdani, candidate for Assembly District 36. "And it's another reason we need radical change in the Assembly. Nothing gets voted on unless it's been cleared to pass by leadership; otherwise it's ignored, or kicked off to an unelected commission. That's why simply voting the right way on whatever legislation makes it to the floor is not enough. We need members who will not only lead on the most critical issues, but organize with their constituents to demand action from Albany year-round, not just at the end of the legislative session or during an election cycle."

We deserve a government by the people and for the people, not by the Super Pacs and corporations. A gold standard small donor public financing match program will help level the playing field and foster a government that is diverse, ethical and one which works for the people it represents. When I ran in 2018 almost every dime I raised came from small dollar donors-more than 2.5 times as many small dollar donations as my opponent, Rich Funke, who opposes public financing and referred to it as ‘welfare for politicians,’” said Jen Lunsford, candidate for Senate District 55. “I know the power individual people have when we stand together and work towards a common goal. If elected, I will fight for meaningful public financing of elections and for drastically the individual donor limits to help ensure elected office is within reach of every day citizens, like myself.”

“Our people-powered movement has the New York political machinery shook. Since the establishment lost voters on the substance of its policies, they are now seeking to undermine the electoral process,” said Jonathan Soto, Bronx organizer at No-IDC. “Incumbents supporting this rigged commission’s diluted recommendation should tread lightly. No one gets a pass.”

“I fully support my fellow Primary challengers in calling for the Commission to deliver a clean statewide system of publicly financed elections. The commission is tampering with our democracy by suggesting to eliminate fusion voting, ” said Katherine Walsh, Candidate for New York State Assembly AD51. “This should be a Legislative vote. Our current Legislators should be here with us in support, but they are not. And if they do not do the right thing, then we know they must be voted out of office.