MANHATTAN

Manhattan: Assemble!

Retirements, challenges, drama. Manhattan’s Assembly delegation is in for a shake-up.

By Jeff Coltin Map by Alex Law

NEW YORK CITY’S seen countless competitive Democratic primaries in the past few election cycles – and more than few incumbents have lost. But Manhattan has largely been left out of the fun. Politicians there tend to stick around for a long time. But a wave of retirements, and some energetic challenges, could shake up Manhattan’s Assembly delegation. And that’s just the June primary. Redistricting will lead to Manhattan voters deciding two of the country’s most closely watched congressional primaries, at a time when the political center of gravity in the city has shifted toward Brooklyn.

“Why should the boroughs have all the fun?” asked Rose Christ, a Manhattan-based lobbyist and former president of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City. “I think it’s only right that we see new people emerge in these races and really hold incumbents to the fire and also make their way in when there are open seats. It’s political dynamics at its best.”

Though not everyone agrees this is new. “Manhattan politics has always been exciting,” said Keith Wright, the leader of the Manhattan Democratic Party. “These things come in cycles. They come in different waves. Believe me: It ain’t nothing we can’t handle.”

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Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs Wilfredo López

Eddie Gibbs was just elected in a January special election. He’s gotten attention as the first formerly incarcerated legislator, after serving four years for manslaughter 30 years ago, and received an endorsement from Mayor Eric Adams. But the Working Families Party-backed lawyer Wilfredo López and two other local leaders – Tamika Mapp and John Ruiz Miranda – hope to make him a oneyear lawmaker.

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Assembly Member Inez Dickens Delsenia Glover

Could Inez Dickens – whose father and uncle held the seat before her – be the latest member of the Harlem establishment to lose? At 69 years old, housing activist Delsenia Glover isn’t your typical young insurgent, but her progressive politics fit the bill. Also in the race is Shawanna Vaughn.

Russell Squire

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Alex Bores Kellie Leeson

With Assembly Member Dan Quart not seeking reelection, the East Side seat is open for the first time since 2011. Attorney and District Leader Russell Squire is the establishment choice, but Working Families Party-backed Kellie Leeson and other progressives Alex Bores and Adam Roberts are all in the mix as well.

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Illapa Sairitupac Grace Lee

The Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter has seen electoral success in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, but hasn’t tried in Manhattan until now, with social worker Illapa Sairitupac. But Grace Lee thinks her brand of progressive politics is more in line with the district, and with Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou leaving the seat to try for Congress, Lee is hoping this Chinatown seat will stay represented by an Asian American legislator. Denny Salas is also running, and while Alana Sivin is on the ballot, she suspended her campaign.

Tony Simone

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Harrison Marks

Layla Law-Gisiko

Assembly Member Richard Gottfried is retiring, leaving this seat open for the first time since 1970. Yep – 52 years. Gottfried and other insiders have picked Tony Simone as his successor, while Harrison Marks and Christopher LeBron are hoping to bring a younger perspective. And Layla Law-Gisiko has brought in big money with a singular focus on stopping new development around Penn Station. Also in the mix is Lowell Kern.

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Assembly Member Deborah Glick Ryder Kessler

Deborah Glick was the first out gay person elected to the state Legislature. But that was 32 years ago, and 36-year-old Ryder Kessler, who is also gay, said it’s time for a change, and the Working Families Party agreed. But are policy disagreements over issues like sex work decriminalization enough to unseat an incumbent?