By Dan Murphy
The election of 2020 marks an interesting time in Westchester politics. Congresswoman Nita Lowey is not running for re-election. Congressman Eliot Engel is running for re-election.
For more than four decades, Lowey and Engel have served all of most of Westchester County since 1988 when both were elected.
This year Rep. Engel does have a challenge in the democratic primary on June 23. In fact he had three democratic challengers, with democrats Jamaal Bowman, Chris Fink and Sammy Ravelo looking to defeat the longtime congressman in the 16th district which includes parts of the Bronx and most of southern and mid- Westchester.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, Engel stayed on the legislative front lines, skipping the photo opps and avoiding the negative attacks against his opponents. Engel was focused on helping his New York colleagues in the House to deliver $5 Billion for New York hospitals, which was five times more than any state. And unfortunately, New York State deserved five times more help for our hospitals because we have had more than five times the number of hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 than the rest of the country.
Rep. Engel was also able to help secure $76 million for community health centers and $400 million for COVID-19 relief for nursing homes. He is currently working with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to attempt to negotiate a fourth stimulus package which, hopefully for New York, will include relief for state governments.
Engel received the endorsement from the Congressional Black Caucus for re-election. “Our membership knows that Eliot Engel will be there with his energy, his leadership and his vote, especially in these times of crisis,” said Congressional Black Caucus Political Action Committee Chair Congressman Gregory Meeks. “Eliot is my colleague in the New York Delegation, he is the Dean of the New York Delegation, and I know first-hand how much he cares about our community. He’s a friend we can call on who delivers for New York, and he’s earned our endorsement because he shows up time and again.”
“The CBC is one of the most important institutions in Congress, and I’m truly honored to have the endorsement of its committee,” said Congressman Engel. “As we all know, the African-American community is disproportionately affected by this terrible virus, and that’s a big reason why I’m fighting for more federal funding for hospitals, community health centers, education, and frontline workers. We must do better. I am absolutely committed to fighting for the issues that matter the most for the black community, in the Bronx and Westchester and around the country.”
Engel has strong support from women’s rights groups, and has been endorsed by NARAL Pro Choice America, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, ProChoice Voter and the National Organization of Women PAC. He recently called out the Trump Administration, demanding they stop attempts to strip federal relief dollars from Planned Parenthood
“Once again, the Trump Administration is using a veil to launch a political attack on Planned Parenthood and undermine access to reproductive health care,” said Rep. Engel. “This latest bit has nothing to do with Planned Parenthood’s eligibility for federal dollars, but is yet another tactic to deflect from the Administration’s failure to curb the pandemic, which has claimed far too many New Yorkers,” said Engel who has a 100% pro-choice voting record.
Rep. Engel also has the support of gun violence prevention groups like the Brady Campaign. “Rep. Eliot Engel has championed gun violence prevention throughout his time in Congress, working to make New York and all of our communities safer. From introducing the Safe Gun Storage Act of 2019, enabling the creation of federal standards for safe storage devices to end family fire, to co-leading the Prevent Crime and Terrorism Act, which would prevent the misguided transfer of arms export licensing away from the State Department, Rep. Engel has shown that he understands the need to prevent gun violence in all of its forms. He is an essential partner in this work who is not afraid to act. Brady is proud to endorse Rep. Eliot Engel for re-election.” -Kris Brown, Brady President.
“I am thrilled to announce that I have been endorsed by the Brady Campaign, who is leading the charge in the fight against #gunviolence and I look forward to standing side by side with them as we continue that fight. Even during the #coronavirus pandemic, pro-gun groups like the NRA are pushing for fast and loose gun sales. Now more then ever we must continue to challenge those who wish to make dangerous firearms more accessible,” said Engel. The Brady Campaign is named after James Brady, White House Press Secretary under President Reagan who was shot withOn the local level, Engel received the support and endorsement from Westchester democrats including County Executive George Latimer, State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, State Senator Shelley Mayer, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, and Mt. Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard.
Rep. Engel also continues his work at Chair of the House Foreign Affairs committee, where he continues to monitor and speak out about the dealings of the Trump administration and the State Department.
More recently, Congressman Engel has spoken out about the death of George Floyd, and the police violence after protests in Brooklyn.
“New Yorkers have the right to have their voices heard. They have the right to peacefully protest. And in the case of the murder of George Floyd, so many in our communities feel that they have a duty to do so. Their message is vital. And we in government must listen. What happened in Brooklyn on the part of the police was wrong. I agree with Governor Cuomo: the public deserves answers and they deserve accountability. I support his call for Attorney General James to investigate the actions of the police last night, and to seek justice in cases of police violence,” said Engel.
One of Engel’s opponents in the democratic primary, Andom Ghebreghiorgis, dropped out of the race this week, and endorsed Bowman.
