The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) continued their political roll through Brooklyn yesterday after 26-year incumbent Assembly Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz conceded defeat to Marcela Mitaynes.
Although still unofficial and first reported by the Brooklyn Paper, Mitayanes victory comes after the absentee ballot vote count in the four-person 51st Assembly district race.
After the June 23 primary Ortiz held a razor this 378 vote lead with 38.17 percent or 2,305 votes while Mitaynes was second with 31.11 percent and 1,927 votes. But the tide turned in Mitaynes after the 5,053 absentee ballots were counted.
“I look forward to using the resources of my office to organize alongside workers in their struggles in the workplace + for a govt that puts people over profit
I look forward to using the resources of my office to organize alongside workers in their struggles in the workplace + for a govt that puts people over profit,” Mitaynes Tweeted yesterday.
“Together, we’re building a movement. I’m humbled by the thousand working-class people that built + ran this campaign. Despite the challenges of campaigning during a pandemic, we showed the political establishment that we’re organized + ready to fight for a better world,” she stated in another Tweet.
In a Facebook post, Ortiz congratulated Mitaynes and wished her the best going forward.
“The votes have been tallied and the people of the 51st district have elected Marcela Mitaynes to represent them in the New York State Assembly,” Ortiz wrote. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of my community in the New York State Assembly for 26 years. I’m proud of my record and the accomplishments we’ve achieved together for our community and our state. To those who have relied on the services of my staff and my offices for many years, I thank you for trusting us to help you. We did our best and will continue to keep you in our prayers. Thank you and God bless you all.”
Mitaynes migrated to New York City from Peru as a child with her family and was raised in Sunset Park. According to the bio on her website, her political activism began after being evicted from her rent-stabilized apartment of 30 years, and she began her life’s work of empowering her neighbors to know their rights and find their voices to fight to stay in their homes.
Through her work with Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and an affiliate of Park Slope’s politically powerful nonprofit developer Fifth Avenue Committee, Mitaynes began working with tenants throughout the state and was instrumental in helping lobby for the passage of the historic Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019.
Along with the DSA support and endorsements, Mitaynes received the endorsement of its two reigning stars, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens, Bronx) and State Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Cypress Hills, parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, East New York. East New York). She also received the support of Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour and the Working Families Party.
Mitaynes’ victory adds to an already impressive DSA primary season, in which their candidate Jabari Brisport has a large lead in the open 25th State Senate District race over Assemblymember Tremaine Wright, and Assemblymember Walter Mosely holds a narrow lead over DSA Candidate Phara Forrest in the 57th assembly district race with there absentee votes still being tabulated.
