Progressive superstar U.S Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has made her voice heard in New York City’s Comptroller race by endorsing candidate and City Councilmember Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn) today, Wednesday, March 31. It marks the first time Ocasio-Cortez has exerted her influence in a competitive citywide race.
“Brad understands that, for government to be able to deliver the bold transformative change we need, it has to work for and with the people,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement. “Brad has a powerful vision for how to lead New York City towards a just recovery, embracing investments in good green jobs and truly affordable housing, and building on his track record of working in deep partnership with communities to ensure no one is left behind. That’s the kind of leadership our city needs to face the challenges of the future.”
Lander, who has represented Brooklyn’s 39th District in the council since 2009, has long been seen as a leading progressive voice in the city’s legislative body, co-founding it’s Progressive Caucus during his first term in office.
“Alexandria models, better than anyone else in politics, the transformative potential in making government more transparent, accessible, and accountable to the goals of making life better for working families and securing a better future for all our communities,” Lander said. “I’m so honored to have her support, and excited about the work ahead together to put government to work for the people and our movements for justice. Together, we’re building a team that’s ready to win the just recovery and brighter future that New Yorkers are hungry for
Other candidates running for the financial watchdog position include Senators Brian A. Benjamin and Kevin S. Parker; Speaker Corey D. Johnson, Assemblymember David L. Weprin, community leaders Zachary Iscol, Terri Liftin, Alex K. Pan, Reshma P. Patel, Paul A. Rodriguez, John Tabacco, and Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, who challenged AOC in her successful bid for reelection in 2020.
Lander has received endorsements from a host of local and national progressive voices since joining the race, including the Working Families Party, City Council Candidate Tiffany Caban and Bronx US Rep Jamaal Bowman.
Benjamin has been endorsed by US Rep Adriano Espaillat, State Assemblymembers Michael Blake and Inez Dickens, and the former president of the NAACP Hazel Dukes, among others.
Johnson, who was long believed to be a contender in the race for Mayor before announcing his bid for Comptroller, has been endorsed by first-term US Rep Ritchie Torres and City Councilmembers Helen Rosenthal and Mark Treyger.
Weprin has been backed by a handful of lawmakers from Queens, his home borough, including Representatives Greg Meeks and Tom Suozzi, Assembly members Jeffrion Aubry, Cathy Nolan and Jenifer Rajkumar and Councilmembers Peter Koo and Karen Koslowitz.
While Ocasio-Cortez has, to this point, stayed silent in the crowded race for the Mayor’s office, she has publicly endorsed Caban, who, after losing a bid for Queens District Attorney in 2019, is running to represent Queens’ Council District 22.
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