NYIC Action Endorses Candidates for New York State Legislature and United States Congress

New York Immigration Coalition’s Sister 501(c)4 Organization Throws Support Behind Challengers in Assembly Districts 31, 51 and 57 

New York, NY (May 26, 2020) – At a critical time when immigrant New Yorkers continue to wage battle on the frontlines of COVID-19, The New York Immigration Coalition’s sister 501 (c)4 organization, NYIC Action, today announced its final set of endorsements for the New York State Senate, the New York State Assembly, and New York’s Congressional Delegation.  Among the group are Jessica González-Rojas, challenger to 6-term Assemblyman Michael DenDekker in Jackson Heights, Queens;  Marcela Mitaynes, challenger to 13-term Assemblyman Felix Ortiz in Sunset Park, Brooklyn; and Phara Souffrant Forrest, challenger to 4-term Assemblyman Walter Mosley in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. 

Steven. Choi, Executive Director of NYIC Action said, “Immigrant New Yorkers make up more than a third of essential workers across the state–from healthcare professionals to farmworkers to cleaners–and yet, too many are struggling to feed and care for their families. NYIC Action is committed to electing leaders who actively seek fairness and justice for New York’s immigrants –and who are unafraid to fight to ensure opportunity for all during good times and in bad times, like now. New Yorkers of all backgrounds and immigration status deserve to have their voices heard–and we believe these are the candidates who will best represent our collective interests in Albany and Washington, D.C.”

This second round of endorsements from the NYIC also includes: 

Assembly members Charles Lavine (District 13), Harvey Epstein (District 71), Al Taylor (District 74), and Harry Bronson (District 138); as well as candidates Richard David (District 31), Brandon Patterson (District 64), Kenny Burgos (District 85) and Adam Bojak (District 149);

Senator Julia Salazar (District 18) and candidate Jeremy Cooney (District 56);

Congressional candidates Mondaire Jones in the Hudson Valley (NY-17) and Nathan McMurray in Western New York (NY-27).

The endorsements were made following the completion of a survey by candidates and their staffs. The surveys focused on five distinct policy areas: expanding our democracy, racial justice, health and welfare, education, and immigrant justice. It also asked candidates to outline their top 3 priorities for immigrants and asked how campaigns plan to reach out to immigrant voters. The first round of endorsements, announced in late April, can be found here.

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About NYIC Action

NYIC Action (nyicaction.org) was originally formed in 2010 as a sister organization to the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), a 501(c)(3) coalition with 200 member organizations across New York State.  In order to increase the political potency of the immigrant vote, Immigrant Action endorses candidates and elected officials who stand up for immigrant communities and against anti-immigrant opponents. Immigrant Action engages in targeted advocacy on specific immigrant-related issues such as legislative scorecards, pointed advocacy flyers highlighting individual elected officials’ stances, and intensive grassroots and direct lobbying of elected officials.