BOROUGHWIDE — ASSEMBLYMEMBER RODNEYSE BICHOTTE Hermelyn told NY1 on Monday evening that she will no longer seek reelection as Brooklyn Democratic Party chair, though the power struggles within the party continue.
Bichotte Hermelyn has led the party for the past six years and was the first woman and first Black woman to lead the party. She originally intended to run for reelection, but after this June’s primary, an opposition group aligned with New Kings Democrats and a coalition called Brooklyn Can’t Wait claimed enough district leader seats to make up a majority within the Brooklyn Democratic Party.
The New Kings Democrats announced plans to elect District Leader Julio Peña III in an internal party election in the fall. In response, Bichotte Hermelyn proposed a change to the party’s bylaws that would expand its Executive Committee, meaning the opposition group’s majority could be challenged.
The changes faced widespread opposition and were ruled null and void shortly after in a lawsuit. However, the decision was then appealed and awaits a final decision from the Appellate Division. In the meantime, the party’s current leadership has voted for the rule change to pass. It is not yet clear who will challenge Peña in Bichotte Hermelyn’s place.
Bichotte Hermelyn said the time had come “to pass the baton” and let a new leader continue to move the party forward.
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