WFP poised to endorse Meng challenger Chuck Park

The New York Working Families Party’s New York City Regional Advisory Council, or RAC, voted on Monday night to recommend endorsing Chuck Park, who is challenging incumbent Rep. Grace Meng in her Queens district, two people familiar with the situation told City & State. Technically, the endorsement recommendation is merely advisory; the WFP’s state officers are due to meet later this week to vote on whether to accept the RAC’s recommendation and formally endorse Park.

Monday was actually the second time that the RAC – a body made up of representatives of the various grassroots community groups, unions and local chapters that comprise the WFP – voted on Park’s endorsement. During an earlier meeting on March 1, the RAC voted against endorsing Park. But there was enough interest in his campaign against Meng that the council decided to reopen the motion to endorse him. This required a two-thirds majority of cast RAC votes (not counting abstentions), which Park’s supporters just barely achieved. Meng had not applied for the WFP endorsement, according to a person familiar with the process.

A nod from the progressive organization could help legitimize Park’s campaign in the 6th Congressional District. The former chief of staff to New York City Council Member Shekar Krishnan has so far failed to earn any key endorsements. 

The RAC considered endorsements in a number of other races as well on Monday night, including state Senate District 12 – which pits Assembly Member Steven Raga against Aber Kawas, who’s backed by the New York City Democratic Socialists of America, for the western Queens seat held by retiring state Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris. Although WFP State Director Jasmine Gripper previously told City & State that Kawas was likely to receive the progressive third party’s endorsement, the RAC instead voted to recommend endorsing Raga.