Brooklyn Democrats Split as Southern Candidates Run Solo

Five Democratic candidates in southern Brooklyn are preparing to challenge incumbent Republicans with minimal support from the county party. The candidates, who face stiff opposition in districts that have shifted politically, report that the Brooklyn Democratic Party has largely stepped back from its traditional role of organizing phone banks, canvassing, and mailers. This lack of institutional backing comes as the party navigates a months-long internal conflict over leadership.

The candidates are Mike DeCillis in New York's 11th Congressional District, Joey Cohen-Saban in Assembly District 45, Chris McCreight in Assembly District 46, Joyce Xie in Assembly District 49, and Larry He in Senate District 17. All five are running against sitting Republicans. The party's inaction has become a focal point for critics who argue the organization has failed to mobilize resources for general elections, a problem that has persisted for years.

The internal strife intensified in June when the reform group New Kings Democrats (NKD) won enough district leader seats to challenge longtime chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. They backed Julio Peña III, who stated that the party's primary job is electing Democrats regardless of internal personal differences. Bichotte Hermelyn responded in August by introducing new party rules that NKD argues thwarted their efforts. This move sparked a legal battle involving lawsuits and restraining orders.

Although courts have repeatedly ruled against Bichotte Hermelyn, she held a vote on October 4 to elect Assembly Member Nikki Lucas as party chair. Reformers contend this vote was illegitimate because it violated a temporary restraining order. They are currently waiting for a court decision. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams criticized the situation in September, noting that the party was distracted by a power grab while facing a close gubernatorial race and pivotal congressional contests.

Chris McCreight, who is challenging Republican Alec Brook-Krasny in Assembly District 46, said he is accustomed to the lack of support. He noted that the party typically focuses on primary elections in deep-blue North Brooklyn rather than general elections in the competitive south. McCreight co-founded Bay Ridge Democrats in the early 2000s specifically to address this gap. He said his campaign relies on local volunteers and community groups, such as the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, to reach voters.

Mike DeCillis, who is running against Nicole Malliotakis in the 11th Congressional District, is using a similar grassroots strategy. He said he realized a new movement of first-time protest attendees and town hall participants had emerged in the borough. DeCillis acknowledged that while he expected some financial and logistical support from the county party, he did not expect much. He pointed to a previous conflict between Bichotte Hermelyn and former council member Justin Brannan as evidence of a perceived lack of desire to elect Democrats in the south.

DeCillis said his team is using hundreds of volunteers for mass canvassing, email outreach, and phone banks. He described the level of enthusiasm as high, comparing it to the 2018 congressional flip. He argued that the party's legal battles are handicapping the races by drawing attention away from voter outreach. He stated that the party's logistical nonsense has made the situation unfortunate for candidates trying to connect with voters.

Joey Cohen-Saban, challenging Republican Michael Novakhov in Assembly District 45, reported a different experience. He said he received substantial support from the county party under Bichotte Hermelyn in his previous 2024 run. Bichotte Hermelyn helped him introduce himself to stakeholders, connect with state campaign committees, and manage daily operations. Cohen-Saban lost that race by 232 votes and credited Bichotte Hermelyn for guiding him through his first campaign.

Cohen-Saban said he is not sure why Bichotte Hermelyn supported his campaign given the slim odds of victory in a conservative district. He suggested she may have simply liked him as a person. He noted that the party's support in his race was distinct from the lack of assistance reported by candidates in other southern districts. He is currently preparing for another run in the same district.

The election is approaching with early voting underway. The party has not resolved its legal or internal issues. Candidates continue to campaign using local networks and volunteers. The outcome of the internal leadership battle remains pending in court. The five candidates will face their Republican opponents in the general election.