Since the stunning victory by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley, Cynthia Nixon received several endorsements over the past two weeks, many of whom are progressives.
The former Sex and the City star announced a challenge against incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo in March with a progressive platform, declaring to fight for better schools, LGBTQ equality, and the legalization of marijuana.
“We are sick of politicians who care more about headlines and power than they do about us. It can’t just be business as usual anymore,” she said in her first campaign video.
In addition to receiving the backing of the Working Families Party, Nixon earned the support of City Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Astoria, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Long Island City, Maspeth, Sunnyside, Woodside), the first Queens official to support the challenger. Earlier this month, City Councilmember Antonio Reynoso (D-Northwestern Brooklyn, Ridgewood) also supported Nixon.
Nixon exchanged mutual endorsements with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 28-year-old progressive whose surprising upset over Crowley.
“Movements are built when communities come together. For too long, New York machine politics has drifted away from the communities they were originally supposed to serve. I am honored to join fellow fighter Cynthia Nixon in the advancement of dignified healthcare, housing, and education for all, in one concerted movement for a New York for the many,” said Ocasio-Cortez.
Jessica Ramos, a progressive running against incumbent State Senator Jose Peralta (D-Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Woodside), also announced her endorsement on Monday, stating to join the movement with Ocasio-Cortez and Nixon against the current political establishment.
“If Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s election made any statement, the loudest one I heard from the electorate was that the era of transactional politics has ended,” Ramos told Politico. “It’s not enough to pass some progressive legislation when you’ve created a perfect storm. It shouldn’t be that hard with a Democratic governor and a bigot in the White House.”
Both Ramos and Nixon spoke against Cuomo and his political stance as a Democrat. Nixon said Cuomo gives massive tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy while starving the state and its cities of the most basic services.
Cuomo and Nixon will face off in Democratic primary set for September 13th.
