Who Voted No and Why?
Congressman Richie Torres was the guest speaker of the Westchester Jewish Democrats at the Scarsdale Women’s Club
On Feb. 18 the Westchester County Democratic Committee held their county convention, and voted overwhelmingly to add the Westchester Jewish Democrats to the roster of affinity groups with a voice and vote in the WCDC’s executive committee. Westchester Jewish Democrats join Black Democrats of Westchester, Hispanic Democrats of Westchester, Women Democrats of Westchester, Westchester Young Democrats, Westchester Asian American Democrats and Hudson Valley Stonewall Democrats.
Westchester County Democratic Chair Suzanne Berger said, “Hearing every voice, reaching out to every community, welcoming, not fearing, our diversity: these are core values of Democrats, and having Westchester Jewish Democrats in our executive discussions will help us put those values into practice.”
The vote to approve the WJD as an affiliate organization of the County Democrats was 76%-25%.
Some took exception as to why 24% of Westchester Democratic leaders at the convention voted no. One Westchester Democrat posted, “I was shocked last night at the Westchester County Democratic Party Convention to see that a large contingent of my fellow Democrats took issue with the Westchester Jewish Democrats being included as an affiliate organization to the Democratic Party. I witnesses several people, some of them claiming to be Jewish, objecting because the WJD supports the State of Israel. The argument went something like – ‘we support the Israeli people and Israel’s right to exist, but we do not support the state of Israel’s current government’.
“When the Westchester Asian Democrats became an affiliate, no one asked what they thought about China and their repressive regime. When the Westchester Hispanic Democrats became an affiliate, no one asked them how the felt about Cuban or Venezuelan dictators or any other repressive governments in Latin America. Other similar groups joined and no one said a thing. Only when the Jews want to join.
“If you don’t think Anti-Semitism is alive and well, even here, you are wrong.
“Thankfully, the Democratic party voted 76% to 24% to accept the WJD. It is sad that almost 1/4 of my fellow Democrats did not support us. This foolishness – this insistence on absolute and total purity – this chest beating virtue signaling – my fellow Democrats, is why we lost the last election and will keep losing elections for years to come. It must stop. Smarten up!”
At their first public meeting since being recognized by the Westchester Democratic County Committee, Congressman Ritchie Torres spoke to the Westchester Jewish Democrats and allies about supporting Israel and fighting antisemitism- two sides on which he has shown great moral clarity.
Rep. Torres is rumored to be interested in running for Governor in 2026.
