Vanessa Aronson is walking right into the Assembly

Vanessa Aronson is a shoo-in to fill Alex Bores’ Assembly seat on the east side of Manhattan. That isn’t  a political analysis of a crowded field, but the facts – Aronson is the only Democrat running who has filed petitions for the open seat. This means there won’t be a primary, and Aronson will be the Democratic party’s nominee on the ballot in November in a district President Donald Trump lost by 53 points.

Aronson, a former public school teacher and strategist at animal rights group nonprofit ASPCA, announced her intent back in September. She told City & State last year she had filed to “be prepared” if Bores, the incumbent Assembly member, decided to run for Congress instead. He did, and now he’s facing off against at least seven Democratic primary opponents hoping to succeed retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler.

Aronson is luckier. Being the only Democrat running is an anomaly. Four years ago, after former Assembly Member Dan Quart declined to seek reelection, Bores beat out four candidates for the open seat. In Lower Manhattan, six Democrats are seeking to succeed Assembly Member Grace Lee as she runs for state Senate and another six Dems have filed for retiring Assembly Member Deborah Glick’s open seat. Across the East River in Queens, at least three Democrats are seeking Assembly Member Claire Valdez’s seat and another three hoping to replace Assembly Member Steven Raga.

And when Aronson ran in the open City Council race last year to succeed the term-limited Keith Powers, she got second in a field of six, and when she ran in the same council district in 2017, nine candidates made the primary ballot.

Now as the party's nominee, Aronson is announcing endorsements from borough power players – who else would they support? – including Bores, Nadler, City Council Speaker Julie Menin, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Council Member Virginia Maloney, who narrowly bested Aronson last year.

“I'm grateful and proud of Virginia's support,” Aronson told City & State. “I'm really grateful that the East Side has two people who are excited to work together and do what's best for our community."

While Bores is backing Aronson, the lack of a primary may be disappointing for his own race. A competitive two-person primary to fill the seat of his rival, Assembly Member Micah Lasher, could help boost June turnout on the Upper West Side. But a Bores campaign spokesperson said it’s not a worry, since the House race is the higher profile race on the top of the ticket.

Aronson is also uncontested for the Working Families Party nomination. But she’s likely to face an opponent in the general election. Republican David Casavis, who has run and lost several times before in the deep blue district, has filed to run again.

“I intend to earn every vote in November,” Aronson said. “So I really have a plan to stay active in the community to meet as many people, as many voters as possible between now and November.”