Buchwald for Congress in the democratic primary June 23
WCLA Calls Carlucci a Turncoat; AOC Endorses Jones
By Dan Murphy
The democratic primary for Congress in the 17th District, between seven democrats, remains very competitive and the outcome still very much up in the air with less than two weeks before the June 23 primary. Longtime Congresswoman Nita Lowey is retiring from the district which includes Mid-Northern Westchester and Rockland County.
Recent polling shows four candidates vying for the lead: Mondaire Jones, Adam Schleifer, State Senator David Carlucci and Evelyn Farkas.
Assemblyman David Buchwald’s congressional campaign got a big boost last week when it received the endorsement from Westchester’s top democrat, County Executive George Latimer. “Recovering from COVID-19 and Trump will take leaders like David Buchwald fighting for all of us in Congress,” said Latimer.
“David is a proven progressive and practical problem-solver whose record of results makes him the best candidate to succeed Congresswoman Nita Lowey. I have seen firsthand his fierce dedication to his constituents and substantive policymaking skills in action — he’ll be ready on day one in Washington. I am proud to call David Buchwald a friend, colleague, and soon: our next Congressman.”
Latimer’s endorsement of Buchwald is the highest profile endorsement from any Westchester Democrat. Congresswoman Lowey has not made an endorsement for her successor. “George Latimer’s leadership has helped steer Westchester through crisis after crisis,” said Buchwald.
“From helping our area hold utility companies to account after power outages, to ensuring property tax relief for local taxpayers, I am proud to have worked as a partner with George on important issues facing the Lower Hudson Valley. His support signals to voters across New York’s 17th Congressional District that this is a time to unite in support of a true-blue Democrat with a record of proven success putting the public’s interests first. Together, we’ll win the race and make sure Washington is delivering for everyone in Westchester and Rockland,” said Buchwald, who has the most endorsements from Westchester democrats and from local democratic committees.
His biggest legislative effort in the Assembly was introducing and passing the New York TRUST Act, which enables the U.S. Congress to request the New York State tax returns of top government officials — a law which Donald Trump is now suing to block.
Two of the democrats in the race for Congress, NY-17, State Senator David Carlucci, and former prosecutor Adam Schleifer, have been the focus of criticism. Four of the seven democrats in the race recently released a letter stating that they pledge to divest direct stock holdings in pharmaceutical companies if elected.
“When the 117th Congress begins in January of 2021, whoever among us is chosen to represent our district will have an immense responsibility to address the systemic issues facing our nation, chief among them the radically disproportionate prices Americans pay for healthcare, and pharmaceuticals in particular. The pharmaceutical industry uses taxpayer dollars to develop drugs, price-gouges consumers for record profits, and spends more money lobbying Congress than any other industry to avoid regulatory accountability,” states some of the letter signed by David Buchwald, David Carlucci, Evelyn Farkas and Mondaire Jones.
The one candidate who did not sign the letter, Adam Schleifer, derives his wealth from his family’s interest in Big Pharma. Schleifer has raised $2.3, including a loan of $1.6 Million, and has spent more than $1 Million on TV ads and mailings to boost his prominence in a crowded field.
Senator Carlucci, who represents Ossining and Rockland County in the State Senate, is seen as one of the front runners in this race because of his name recognition in Rockland. However, his past experience in the senate, where he served in the Independent Democratic Conference, IDC, and joined with republicans to deny the majority to his own party, is being used against him.
Pro-Choice Voter, which includes several organizations including the Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, WCLA, has began a media campaign against Sen. Carlucci and his history with the IDC. Postcards and robocalls have begun, landing on Democrats primarily in Rockland County, in an attempt to weaken Carlucci’s strength across the Hudson River.
One mailer, with Carlucci’s picture between President Trump and US Senate leader Mitch McConnell reads “For years, turncoat Carlucci voted to put republicans in charge of Albany Who will he stand with in Washington DC? Not us. The primary is June 23, vote for a real democrat, not a turncoat,”
The message of the phone calls and texts to democrats in the 17th Congressional district is that Carlucci cannot be trusted because of his “betraying democratic principles,” and for his continued “lying to his constituents about his role in the IDC.”
Carlucci and the IDC are to blame for not passing the Dream Act, the Climate Protection Act, Early Voting, Fair Pay Act, during the years where they controlled the senate with republicans. “He cannot be trusted to fight for us in Congress.”
What is unique about the attacks on Carlucci is that they do not point towards a candidate to vote for. Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, President of WCLA-Choice Matters said, “It’s our job to shave off a few thousand votes from Carlucci,” and it’s the job of the other six candidates to “sell themselves.”
Progressive Democrat Mondaire Jones, also from Rockland, recently picked up the endorsement of Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, AOC. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez grew up in Yorktown, in the 17th District.
“Mondaire has run a progressive, grassroots campaign from the start and we need more leaders like him in Congress,” said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez.
“He knows that this country hasn’t worked for working people because he has lived it. People like us aren’t supposed to run for office, but when we do, we defy the odds and break down barriers. Mondaire had spoken up for racial justice long before the present national outcry and personally understands this country’s existential problems, which is why I’m proud to endorse him today.”
“Growing up poor, black, and gay, I never imagined that someone like me could run for Congress, much less win. But Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has changed that impression for so many kids who wonder if there is a place for them in a world filled with so much injustice. We need more people in Congress like her, who understand through their lived experiences the urgency of racial justice and economic fairness. I am excited to join her in that fight, and humbled by her support,” said Jones who has also been endorsed by US Senator Elizabeth Warren, and who hopes to become the first openly gay, black member of Congress.
Some democratic leaders are telling their voters to wait to complete their absentee ballot and see what happens. Perhaps another candidate will drop out, or perhaps another big endorsement will come from Hillary Clinton, Nita Lowey, or the NY Times.
Editor’s Note: This story was edited to include the fact that two of the candidates, Allison Fine and Asha Castleberry-Hernandez, withdrew their names from the Pharma letter.
