New York City
Brooklyn Dems urge unity (feat. Zohran Mamdani)
At the annual gala, the Democratic nominee for mayor was the star guest.
The crowd at the Brooklyn Democratic Party’s gala chanted “hands off Tish.” Holly Pretsky
As several powerful Democrats have refused to endorse Zohran Mamdani and some Democrats have even endorsed his opponent, Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn continued to embrace him Thursday night. He was the marquee guest at her Brooklyn Democratic Party gala, themed “Power in Unity.”
“This is not a revolution. This is what our Democratic Party is,” she said, standing on stage with Mamdani and about a dozen other elected officials. Indeed, the packed event brought together Democrats from across the city and across the political spectrum, from Common Sense Caucus Council Member Susan Zhuang to democratic socialist Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes. When Mamdani arrived, he was mobbed. But there were notable absences, and the party is hardly unified. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries did not make it, though he was expected to give remarks. Neither did U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who sent a video. Gov. Kathy Hochul skipped as well. So did Rep. Dan Goldman. Two rumored 2026 congressional primary challengers, Chi Ossé and Alexa Avilés, made appearances. Bichotte Hermelyn welcomed New York City Comptroller candidate Mark Levine, noting that she was proud to have endorsed him – a subtweet of her Brooklyn Democratic adversary Justin Brannan, who lost to Levine. The Brooklyn Young Democrats, who are not recognized by the county party though they are recognized by the state Democrats, weren’t there.
This may not be a revolution, but Mamdani had revolutions in mind. “As we stand here in Brooklyn, I’m reminded of the history of this borough, of standing up to repression. … In the largest battle of the Revolutionary War, hundreds died in Flatbush, in South Slope, in Prospect Park because they believed in a future of self-determination and freedom,” he said. He said Brooklyn’s “spirit of refusing to abide by oppression” carried forward to today in the form of standing up for “Brooklyn’s very own Tish James.” In a moment of true unity, the whole crowd joined Mamdani in chants of “hands off Tish.” The state attorney general too urged the audience to “stand together and elect someone who believes we should all be united.”