Brooklyn Democrats Prepare for Five Key Races Amid Internal Legal Battles

Five Democratic candidates are preparing to challenge Republican incumbents in southern Brooklyn this fall, operating with limited county party support amid a protracted internal leadership dispute. The races include congressional district NY-11, state Assembly districts 45, 46, and 49, and state Senate district 17.

The Brooklyn Democratic Party has faced criticism for years over its approach to general elections in the borough’s increasingly competitive southern districts. Critics argued the party failed to organize phone banks, canvassing events, or mailers for candidates facing stiff competition. In 2022, Republicans unseated three Democratic state Assembly members in districts that had voted blue for decades.

Those losses contributed to the rise of the New Kings Democrats, a reform group that sought to replace longtime party chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. In June, the group secured enough district leader seats to challenge her leadership and supported Julio Peña III instead. Bichotte Hermelyn introduced new party rules in August that reformers argue thwarted their plans. Courts have ruled against her allies multiple times, yet she held a vote on Oct. 4 to elect Assembly Member Nikki Lucas as chair. Reformers contend that vote violated a temporary restraining order and await a court decision.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams voiced frustration over the internal conflict at a September rally. He noted that a poll showed a Trump-aligned Republican within five points of the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. Williams argued that the party should focus on flipping congressional seats rather than engaging in what he called a power grab.

Chris McCreight, running in Assembly District 46, said his campaign has relied on local volunteers and community groups rather than county resources. He noted that the party historically prioritizes primary elections in deep-blue North Brooklyn, where Republican challengers are rare. McCreight lost to incumbent Alec Brook-Krasny in 2024 by just over 1,000 votes. He stated that he has not received support from the Brooklyn Democratic Party during his current campaign.

Mike DeCillis, challenging Nicole Malliotakis in NY-11, is using a similar grassroots strategy. He has organized town halls on immigration and Medicare, and led rallies on Staten Island. DeCillis said his campaign lacks institutional financial support but has made up for it with hundreds of volunteers for canvassing and phone banking. He described the current level of voter enthusiasm as higher than in the 2018 cycle. He credited Peña and the New Kings Democrats for helping host canvasses and amplifying the message.

DeCillis said the ongoing legal battles have drawn attention away from the races. He described the county party’s current logistical efforts as handicapping the campaigns. In contrast, Joey Cohen-Saban in Assembly District 45 reported receiving substantial support from the county party. He cited Bichotte Hermelyn’s role in introducing him to stakeholders and helping with campaign operations during his 2024 run. Cohen-Saban lost that race to Republican Michael Novakhov by 232 votes.

Cohen-Saban said Bichotte Hermelyn was present daily during his 2024 campaign, helping him navigate his first run. He said Lucas has also assisted his current effort. He noted that he is familiar with complaints from other candidates about the county party but does not fully understand why Bichotte Hermelyn supported his bid given his slim chances of victory in a district that voted heavily for Trump in the presidential election.

With early voting underway a week before the election, the party has not resolved its legal and internal issues. Candidates in the five target races continue to organize their own outreach efforts. The outcome of these contests will test whether grassroots mobilization can overcome the lack of traditional county party infrastructure in southern Brooklyn.