Winners:
Justin Brannan & The Bay Ridge Democrats
City Councilman Justin Brannan (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst), along with Bay Ridge Democrats President Chris McCreight showed that they are the new kingmakers in Southern Brooklyn. Their backing of State Sen.-elect Andrew Gounard over Ross Barkan in the primary and then State Sen. Marty Golden showed strong political savvy and organizational skills. With most of the city council term limited out in two years, Brannan will become a senior member of the council in his next term and would make an excellent candidate for speaker.
Brooklyn’s Haitian Electeds
With the election of Haitian-American Mathylde Frontus to the assembly, the Haitian-American elected political clout continues to grow. Led by Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte and Democratic District Leader Josue ‘Josh” Pierre, look for this block to continue to field hard-charging candidates. Look for Pierre to run for City Councilman Mathieu Eugene or perhaps Jumaane Williams’ seat in two years where both are term-limited. However, Brian Cunningham is likely to also be a strong candidate for Eugene’s seat and Farah Louis, another Haitain-American is rumored to be looking at Williams’ seat.
Borough President Eric Adams
Just as some were counting the Beep out in his bid to run for mayor, particularly with the loss of his close ally, State Sen. Jesse Hamilton, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams has risen like a Phoenix. Gounardes came out of his office as a well-respected legislative attorney to beat longtime Senator Marty Golden. Additionally, Adam saying he’d strap on his gun as an ex-cop when going to a place of worship to deter any mass shooter set him apart as the law and order candidate for mayor. He also has plenty of campaign cash to spend on what will be an expensive mayoral race.
Letitia James
Tish is smart and ambitious. She also is a true unifier, saying in her victory speech that she will work hard even for those who voted against her to earn their trust. Look for her to run for governor in four years, and if she wins, the presidency is in reach.
Max Rose & Andrew Gounardes
Rose ran an excellent well-oiled campaign in upsetting U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan. he is charismatic, full of ideas and exhibits excellent leadership qualities. The kind of elected that is sorely needed in Washington. Gounardes is a policy wonk and a nice guy. With the Democrats now in the senate majority, it will be interesting to see if they will put him in a committee leadership role.
Losers
City Councilman Mark Treyger
Treyger burnt a lot of political capital in supporting his former chief of staff Ethan Lustig-Elgrably, who lost to Frontus in the primary for the open assembly seat. If he is still looking at the borough president’s race in two years, he needs a lot of work in rebuilding bridges.
Brooklyn’s Republican Party
The loss of State Sen. Marty Golden was a big blow for local Republicans. GOP Chair Teddy Ghorra has his work cut out for him in building the party back up. One suggestion is the party should make up with Republican leader Lucretia Regina-Potter and her Fiorello LaGuardia Republican Club.
Another suggestion is for the GOP to mine diversity within their ranks. This includes Keith Wofford, who ran an excellent but losing campiagn for attorney general against Letitia James, Lutchi Gayot, who ran and lost against U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke and Brandon Washington who ran and lost against Assemblywoman Jaime Williams. Another black Republican to watch is Christine Parker, cousin to Democratic State Sen. Kevin Parker. Wofford, Gayot, Washington and Parker could form a solid nucleus for reimagining Brooklyn’s Republican Party.
The Brooklyn GOP also needs to do more outreach in both the growing Chinese and Hispanic populations in Southern Brooklyn.
State Sen. Simcha Felder
With the loss of the Republican Senate Majority, Felder will likely find himself further ostracized by the Democratic Party. This will mean less senate perks and money for Felder to bring home to the district.
