by Olivia Young<\/p>\n
The June 23 Democratic primary elections are less than a month away, and candidates are vying for the votes they need to represent their communities. Contenders are each backed by one of two competing local political groups \u2014 the Unity Democratic Club and the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club \u2014 with the exception of Congressional candidates.<\/p>\n
The Ben Franklin club has been around since 1960, and was established to build a more \u201copen, responsive and accountable political system,\u201d according to its website. Unity Democratic Club was founded in 2022 as a breakaway from Ben Franklin club, spearheaded by district leaders at the time Abigail Martin and Ramdat Singh, to create a club that is \u201cwelcoming to all and offers opportunities for activism and new leadership,\u201d according to its website.<\/p>\n
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Congressional District 15 encompasses Riverdale, as well as parts of the south and east Bronx. Congress is made up of two bodies, the Senate and the House of Representatives, who make and vote on federal laws. <\/p>\n
U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres <\/p>\n
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres was elected in 2020, and was previously the youngest and first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to office in the Bronx. He grew up in public housing, raised by a single mom, and is focused on \u201caffordable housing, social justice and the working families of the Bronx,\u201d according to his website. He has been both celebrated and critiqued for his staunch support of Israel. <\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Ben Franklin club, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, among others. <\/p>\n
Michael Blake <\/p>\n
Michael Blake previously held office as an Assembly member in the South Bronx, and is running to \u201cfight for jobs and justice for everyone in the Bronx,\u201d according to his website, as well as \u201cmaking our borough more affordable, safer and fairer.\u201d He is the son of Jamaican immigrants, his mother a manufacturer and his father a labor union member. He\u2019s worked under former president Barack Obama and served as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. <\/p>\n
Endorsed by: New Jersey Mayor Ras J. Baraka, former mayor Bill de Blasio, co-founder of social justice organization Until Freedom Tamika Mallory, and Assembly candidate Jasmin Sanchez, among others. <\/p>\n
Jose Vega <\/p>\n
Jose Vega is a political organizer and associate of the LaRouche Movement. He previously ran as an independent against Torres in 2024, and is doing so again to \u201cbring an end to the two-party system,\u201d according to his website. Vega was raised in the South Bronx, and is focused on affordable healthcare, making the borough the center of reindustrialization of the U.S., and immigration reform. Vega believes the U.S. \u201cmust once again become a beacon of hope and temple of liberty to the world.\u201d <\/p>\n
Endorsed by: \u201cDue Dissidence\u201d podcast hosts Keaton Weiss and Russel Dobular, Trauma surgeon Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, Integrity Political Action Committee, comedian Jimmy Dore of \u201cThe Jimmy Dore Show,\u201d among others.<\/p>\n
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Assembly District 81 includes Riverdale, Kingsbridge and some of Kingsbridge Heights, as well as parts of Norwood, Woodlawn and Wakefield. The Assembly works at the state level, along with the state Senate, to introduce and vote on laws, as well as vote on the annual state budget. <\/p>\n
Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz<\/p>\n
Incumbent Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz has led District 81 for more than 30 years. He is chair of the Assembly Committee on Codes, as well as a supporter of addressing public school funding inequities, protecting tenants\u2019 rights, mass transit, and action to mitigate impacts of climate change, according to his website. His website also says that he \u201cbelieves elected officials should pay particular attention to neighborhood issues and individual constituent problems.\u201d <\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Ben Franklin club, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres and U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, among others. <\/p>\n
Morgan Evers <\/p>\n
Morgan Evers is an educator, community activist and disability rights advocate. Her campaign is centered around serving working families and rejecting donations from corporations. She is looking to preserve affordable homeownership, protect tenants\u2019 rights, ensure access to affordable child care, support local businesses and \u201cfight against the threats to our civil rights,\u201d according to her website. Evers developed a degenerative retinal disease in her 30\u2019s leading to visual impairment. <\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Unity Democratic Club, former state attorney general Oliver Koppell, state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, state Sen. Robert Jackson and New York Working Families party, among others.<\/p>\n
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Democratic party positions like district leader and state committee member don\u2019t make laws, but instead serve as volunteer liaisons between the community and county or state officials. <\/p>\n
District leader Abigail Martin <\/p>\n
Incumbent Abigail Martin was elected to district leader in 2022, and is focused on addressing voter apathy and increasing turnout in elections. She has a background in social work, and is executive director of Eleanor\u2019s Legacy, a political organization that supports pro-choice women candidates across the state. According to her website, she is using her voice to \u201cmake our democracy more responsive to the people.\u201d <\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Unity Democratic Club and state Sen. Gustavo Rivera. <\/p>\n
Virginia Krompinger <\/p>\n
Virginia Krompinger is a lawyer, president emerita of the Ben Franklin club and vice president of Kiwanis Club of Riverdale. Krompinger previously said she aims to make local and national issues heard, from empty storefronts on Knolls Crescent to the Trump administration. She also said she helped secure a new supermarket on Riverdale Avenue after the Key Food closed. <\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Ben Franklin club, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, U.S. Rep. Espaillat and Council member Eric Dinowitz.<\/p>\n
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District leader Ben Jackson <\/p>\n
Incumbent Ben Jackson, elected to the position in 2024, is an organizer and lawyer against corporate fraud and union abuse, according to the Ben Franklin club\u2019s website. Since being elected, he has worked to register local voters, get Democratic candidates on the ballot and organized fieldwork against New York Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler.<\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Ben Franklin club, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, U.S. Rep. Espaillat and Council member Eric Dinowitz. <\/p>\n
Izaiah \u201cZeek\u201d Barrow <\/p>\n
Izaiah \u201cZeek\u201d Barrow is the co-founder of Theory 9,\u00a0 a nonprofit that hosts food and toy drives, and other community events like basketball tournaments. He is also a third generation hardwood floor specialist, and founded a youth mentoring program called A Floor Man\u2019s Dream to teach young people the trade. He previously said he aims to fight for progressive change rooted in residents\u2019 needs. <\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Unity Democratic Club, state Sen. Gustavo Rivera and state Sen. Robert Jackson.<\/p>\n
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State committee member Johanna Edmondson<\/p>\n
Incumbent Johanna Edmondson was elected in 2024, and is also the founder of Female Fight Club NYC, a fitness studio centered around health and women\u2019s empowerment. According to the Ben Franklin club website, she \u201cadvocates for civic engagement and more inclusive participation in local politics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Ben Franklin club, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, U.S. Rep. Espaillat and Council member Eric Dinowitz. <\/p>\n
Betsey Knapp <\/p>\n
Betsey Knapp is the former president of the Unity Democratic Club and cofounder of activist group Northwest Bronx Indivisible. She previously said she is focused on affordability, improving transportation and supporting legislation that helps climate change.<\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Unity Democratic Club and state Sen. Gustavo Rivera.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
State committee member Michael Heller<\/p>\n
Incumbent Michael Heller came into the role in 2022. He is the former president of the Ben Franklin club, and a longtime member, and also worked as district manager for Bronx Community Board 8. According to the Ben Franklin club website, Heller has been active in community service, public affairs and government. <\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Ben Franklin club, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, U.S. Rep. Espaillat and Council member Eric Dinowitz. <\/p>\n
Bereket Ghebremedhin<\/p>\n
Bereket Ghebremedhin is a member of Unity Democratic club and activist group Citizen Action of New York. He previously said he aims to target the financial crisis surrounding Amalgamated Housing Cooperative in Van Cortlandt Village. He has also said he wants to introduce a new era of Democrats.<\/p>\n
Endorsed by: Unity Democratic Club and state Sen. Gustavo Rivera.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tKeywords<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tBronx Democratic primary,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Riverdale elections,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t June 23 primary,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Unity Democratic Club,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Ritchie Torres,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Michael Blake,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Jose Vega,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Jeffrey Dinowitz,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Morgan Evers,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Abigail Martin,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Virginia Krompinger,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Ben Jackson,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Zeek Barrow,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Johanna Edmondson,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Betsey Knapp,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Michael Heller,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Bereket Ghebremedhin,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Bronx politics,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Riverdale voters,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Assembly District 81,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Congressional District 15,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t local elections,\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t Democratic candidates\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"by Olivia Young The June 23 Democratic primary elections are less than a month away, and candidates are…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":248373,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[97055,97064,97057,97053,97062,97060,128,97049,46433,97065,97066,19287,97059,35633,97051,17584,22145,97061,97054,9,24,63,2457,97050,97063,129,131,130,97052,97056,97058],"class_list":["post-248372","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-the-bronx","tag-abigail-martin","tag-assembly-district-81","tag-ben-jackson","tag-benjamin-franklin-reform-democratic-club","tag-bereket-ghebremedhin","tag-betsey-knapp","tag-bronx","tag-bronx-democratic-primary","tag-bronx-politics","tag-congressional-district-15","tag-democratic-candidates","tag-jeffrey-dinowitz","tag-johanna-edmondson","tag-jose-vega","tag-june-23-primary","tag-local-elections","tag-michael-blake","tag-michael-heller","tag-morgan-evers","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-ritchie-torres","tag-riverdale-elections","tag-riverdale-voters","tag-the-bronx","tag-the-bronx-headlines","tag-the-bronx-news","tag-unity-democratic-club","tag-virginia-krompinger","tag-zeek-barrow"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248372","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248372"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248372\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/248373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248372"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=248372"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=248372"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}