By Dan Murphy
Is it hard to defeat an incumbent member of Congress? You bet your boots it is. Just ask the current sitting Congressman in the 16th District, Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
Two years ago, Rep. Bowman did just that, beating longtime incumbent Congressman Eliot Engel in the democratic primary. Now Bowman faces three democratic challengers in the upcomng congressional primary on August 23, but most democrats we spoke to say that this is a two person race, between Bowman and County Legislator Vedat Gashi.
Recently, the four democrats participated in a League of Women Voters debate, which can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQfNjrEE94w. The other two candidates in the debate are County Legislator Catherine Parker and Harrison resident Mark Jaffe.
Many of our readers in Yonkers don’t know who Vedat Gashi is, and may not know who their member of Congress is, or most important, that there is a democratic primary on Aug. 23 for this Westchester Conressional District, NY-16.
Who is Vedat Gashi and why is he running for Congress against an incumbent fellow democrat? We asked the candidate just that and more. “We have been working hard and knocking on doors. And the response has been positive. I want people to know that I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mounth. I worked for everything that I have. My family came from Kosovo, a broken country and we immigrated when I was a child. And we attained the American Dream through hard work and by working together.”
“I’m worried about some of the direction and division that I’m seeing out there, and that’s why I’m running. The people that I have been speaking with are looking for common sense. They don’t want to defund the police. They are worried about crime and in making ends meet.
“I’m a proud democrat, but I remember when our party stood for the working man and not trying to tear each other down. I think we have a fanstastic opportunity and I don’t think its impossible to win if we can get people to pay attention and understand how bad the record of my opponent is,” said Gashi.
“My opponent’s vote against the infrastructure bill and to defund the police, have made it harder for the democratic party, and for our country. I’m hoping that the people of Yonkers know about his record and what he has done.”
“During this campaign, he will go on Zoom and talk about the infrastructure projects that are happening in the district. But every project he mentions, he voted against. We don’t need somebody impeding our progress and making it harder
“I actually think that its shameless politics that people are sick of. At a time like this we should be working together and working hard.
Gashi wants the comparison between what he is campaigning on, and the record of Congressman Bowman, made, and if he can get the people of the 16th district to pay attention and listen, he believes he can win.
Several democrats we spoke to in the district, agreed that Gashi has a chance to make history, just like Bowman did two years ago. “I think most objective Westchester democrats know Bowman and Gashi. And that why you are seeing several Westchester democratic women and local unions supporting Gashi,” said one Yonkers Democrat.
Gashi touted the recent endorsements from Westchester democrats like Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and County Legislator Alfreda Williams as “meaningful to me to have their support.”
One big union endorsement in Yonkers is from Teamster Local 456, and Gashi has it. “The democratic party used to mean hard working, average people. And I have endorsements from them, and it’s inspiring that they trust me to be there voice.
“When I knock on doors and speak to voters, they wonder if things have gotten worse over the past two years. I think we need a new direction for the district and for the country.”
“When asked about climate change he says he wants to throw $3 Trillion dollars at it. That’s a dollar amount not a plan. We need a voice in Washington and our campaign is doing the work to talk to voters and make sure everyone knows there is a democratic primary on August 23,” said Gashi, who understands that Yonkers is a crtiical part of the district and the democratic primary.
“I think they are taking for granted and not recognizing how frustrated people are, and how worried they are about their future.”
A democrat leader on the sound shore said, “I think Gashi has a chance and I think this race is between Gashi and Bowman. Gashi is an intellectual and a thoughful deep thinker. He has a lot of support in different communities, including the Jewish community and even some African-American support.
“Many are privately supporting Gashi, not because Bowman is black, but because he is a sitting incumbent Congressman who weilds a lot of power. I have also gotten five pieces of mail from Gashi and haven’t gotten any from Bowman.”
Westchester democrats we spoke to could not understand why County Legislator Catherine Parker got into the race so late. “Catherine wants to move up, that’s clear. She has run for Congress before, but if I was advising her I would say you can’t win. The common political wisdom says that Parker will hurt Gashi, but I know of several progressive democrats who went from Bowman to Parker.
“The other thought is that Parker is running to get name recognition out for a future race, perhaps County Executive, or State Senate when Shelley (Senator Mayer) steps down,” said a sound shore democrat. “I hear Gashi is doing good even in Rye. He has a great life story and he is getting a good response.”
But what will happen in Yonkers? Some believe that endorsements from prominent Yonkers democrats, for both Bowman and Gashi are coming soon.
Republicans have a candidate in NY-16, but most believe that he is a “placeholder,” with another canddiate to come after the primary. John Ciampoli is the name of the current candidate for the GOP in NY-16. Ciampoli, who has served as a longtime republican election law attorney, listed his address on Long Island on the candidate form. This was first reported by Delfim Heusler on Yonkersinsider.blogspot.com. Look for another Westchester republican to step forward and run in NY-16 next month.
