New York Democrats in chaos with progressive left calling state party nearly as undemocratic as ‘North Korea’
Progressive New York Democrats are fed up with party leadership and demand the removal of the party chief as well as reforms to the entire apparatus following a devastating 2022 midterm cycle.
In the 2022 midterms, four U.S. House seats were flipped to the Democrats in New York. This greatly contributed to the Republicans taking the majority. Progressive activists believe the problem is deeper than just one election.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, George Albro, cochair of Brooklyn Progressive Action Network stated that “First, they must run the party democratically.” The Democratic Party must become democratic. It is currently competing with North Korea for democracy.
Jay Jacobs, the chairman of the state party, has been subject to numerous calls for his resignation as party leader since November.
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Jacobs has a history of separating himself from far-left groups, especially those associated with Democratic Socialists of America. However, Albro reports that more moderate Democrats are calling for Jacobs’ ouster.
Albro’s Progressive Action Network was founded in support of Democratic Socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns. It has since grown to become a national grassroots organization.
In November, more than 1,000 state Democrats signed a letter expressing concern about Jacobs, who they consider to be indelibly connected to the disgraced former governor. Andrew Cuomo must go.
The letter states that “Here in New York however, the State Democratic Party led by Jay Jacobs, Cuomo appointee, failed to devote the time, energy, and resources necessary for maintaining our deep-blue statut: 4 Congressional seats were flipped to Republican control and Governor Hochul was elected by a slim majority, the smallest in 20 years.” “The signs are on the wall, and have been for some time. Jay Jacobs isn’t fit to be Chair of the State Democratic Party.”
Brooklyn-based Independent Neighborhood Democrats made a joke about Jacobs’ party operation by pointing out that only the left-wing “Working Families Party” had been putting organizers in to the field to support Democratic Party candidates.
The group called for Jacobs to resign or be fired as party chair in a resolution. Jacobs was also blamed for losing three Democratic-held state Senate seat in Nassau County, where he is also the county Democratic Party chairman.
Jacobs did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. He has been open about his differences with the Democratic Party’s left wing and blamed some of the losses in the midterm elections on the progressives.
Jacobs stated that New York performed poorly, but California did well,” City & State reported last year. What do these two states share in common? Governmentally speaking, we are among the most progressive states in the nation.
Jacobs pledged to never support a socialist Democratic candidate, because he disagrees with their views.
“I will not endorse any DSA candidate for office. I understand what they stand for and many of them are things I disagree with. Jacobs stated that he is uncomfortable supporting someone on that platform and that he won’t be doing it as an individual or as a party chair. Jacobs spoke to Crain’s New York Business last Wednesday.
“I don’t hold any animus. They have every right, and even obligation, to express their views in the best way they can. It’s just that there was less rancor.
Jacobs wrote a 10-page report explaining why Democrats lost seats in midterms. He also pointed out that the Republican Party’s focus on crime during the midterms was a winning message.
“NY was the only state where Republicans could, even unfairly, point to a specific action taken in the Democrats’ (“Cashless Bail”) as the cause for the rise in crime. Jacobs explained why Democrats lost their seats in the midterms in a 10-page report.
Albro sees the insinuation progressive policies cost Democrats at a ballot box as just one part of the story. He said that the issue was a “red herring”, since crime is increasing across the country and not just in New York.
“The Democrats totally mishandled this issue [of crime] They either tacitly accepted it or didn’t respond to. Albro stated that Republicans are promoters for crime due to their positions on firearms and the January 6, 2021, storming at the U.S. Capitol.
Albro has complained about the party’s operation chiefly because of a proxy system, which has been a problem for New York Democrats for many years. The system allowed a Brooklyn County official to rule over a record number meeting attendees by using multiple votes. He held more proxy votes that the record number Democrats who attended a meeting. The New York Times reported this year.
Governor of New York Kathy Hochul supported Jacobs after calls for his resignation grew following the midterm elections.
“I think that he [Jacobs] did an excellent job as chair and he will continue as chair. Hochul stated that we aren’t changing anything.
Albro, who called for Hochul to speak out against Jacobs as top Democrat, said that changing the party’s leadership alone would not be enough.
Albro said, “That’s not enough. Albro stated that it must be part of a reform movement which reforms the party and democratizes it.
Albro stated that he expected “there to be a movement (to elect) someone else” at a state party meeting later in the year.
He added, “I don’t know who that person is yet.”
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