Local & State
Brooklyn Democratic Chair Survives Contested Vote to Rewrite Party Rules
PN Team • 2 months ago
Brooklyn Democratic Party district leaders voted Tuesday night to approve contested bylaw changes that critics say will help chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn retain control of the county organization. The changes, passed with support from 21 leaders including eight who lost primary challenges in June, add dozens of new seats to the executive committee just as a reform slate backing Julio Peña had gained enough votes to elect a new chair for the first time in nearly two decades.
The vote proceeded despite public calls to halt it from Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Sen. Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Attorney General Letitia James. The closed-door meeting, held at a Mill Basin Democratic club, barred press entry, and Bichotte Hermelyn left without commenting, later calling the process "open, fair and democratic." Reformers, who argue the rule changes dilute their newly won majority and violate election law, plan to refile a lawsuit after a judge previously declined to intervene before the vote. The fight over party control is expected to continue ahead of the chair election.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Chuck Schumer Schumer is portrayed favorably as joining other leaders in calling for a halt to a process criticized as undemocratic.
- Hakeem Jeffries Jeffries is shown positively as opposing the contested vote alongside other prominent Democrats.
- Kathy Hochul Hochul is favorably depicted as calling for a halt to the disputed vote, aligning her with reform and transparency.
- Zohran Mamdani Mamdani is favorably portrayed as publicly opposing the contested vote alongside other officials.
- Democratic Party (United States) The national Democratic Party is tangentially implicated by association with the Brooklyn chapter's internal conflict.