Article Author:
Associated Press
Michelle L. Price
Peekskill, New York (AP) — Join union members and other supporters in the downtown plaza of this small city facing the bank. At a recent rally, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney of the Hudson River, New York, tried to remind Democrats of all he thinks Democrats have accomplished.
He has been on board for the comprehensive coronavirus relief bill passed in early 2021, the infrastructure deal last fall, plans to boost high-tech manufacturing, the toughest gun laws in decades, and the recent Advertised climate and health laws. It was written off.
Democrats are "doing big things," Maloney said in an interview after the event.
He is confident he and his party will get enough of the message to navigate this year's perilous political environment. , is responsible for helping the party buck historical trends and maintain or expand its majority in the House of Representatives.
Facing a confluence of hurdles, Maloney insists on staying focused on the party's agenda.
"It's politics at its best when things are going well," he said.
Maloney, 56, was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party when he was first elected to the House of Representatives a decade ago. New York State's first openly gay legislator, he was a trailblazer for a new Democratic Party that advanced far beyond the urban base.
But he faces a major challenge from state Senator Alessandra Biaggi next week.
"I think he represents all the bad things about politics," Biaggi said in an interview.
Maloney counters that the establishment has delivered what voters want: pragmatism over activism. "We've had a really successful summer, and if things continue like this, we're going to surprise a lot of people in November," Maloney said.
He also has the endorsement of The New York Times, which has a great deal of influence among Democrats in suburbs and New York City, and the endorsement of former President Bill Clinton. is also obtained. in the area.
Maloney, who worked at the Clinton White House, is a "proven leader," the former president said in his endorsement, but his wife New York Senator and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Biaggi worked in the presidential campaign, and Clinton took the vows of Biaggi and her husband at their wedding in 2019.
Biaggi's biggest supporter, an attorney in former Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration and the granddaughter of former Bronx Congressman Mario Biaggi, is progressive star Alexandria Ocasio of New York.・This is Senator Cortez. Biaggi, like Ocasio-Cortez, has a history of supporting strong, moderate party members and is an activist and supporter of the workers' creed.
Ocasio In his 2018 progressive wave, the same he put Cortez in office, Biaggi, despite spending a lot of money ousted a longtime state senator known for leading a band of Democrats who worked with the She draws on a similar grassroots approach and desire for change as she seeks to overthrow Maloney.
"I stand in front of the door every weekend and knock it off its hinges and push it in every nook and cranny," she said while rallying the campaign group Sleepy Her. Volunteer knocking on her door on weekends in Hollow.
She also hopes that the unusual circumstances in next week's primary will create opportunities. This is her second primary run by The New Yorker this summer, a date that was postponed to accommodate a redrawing of the political map after her first attempt at re-election was dismissed in court.
There were gubernatorial and other statewide constituency primaries in June, but the legislative primary was postponed until her August 23rd. So I was able to draw a new map.
New Yorkers aren't used to her voting in two primaries. For one in particular, it's late August, when many are on vacation, and the new map may not be familiar with the new constituency boundaries and who's considered an incumbent — this could be the case for activists like Biaggi. It could pave the way for the person with the energy behind it.
Maloney has represented some of the newly elected 17th Districts, but Biaggi currently does not represent any of them in her State Senate seat, and has been elected to become a resident. Moved about 15 miles north.
Maloney also moved north from New York City ten years earlier when he first ran for representation in the area, but he and his husband already had another home in the area at the time. I immediately realized that I was.
"She has a right to run, but people say that 95% of her district is in the Bronx, and I am a representative of the hundreds of thousands in this district. You have a right to know something," he said of Biaggi in an interview.
He and his supporters have described her politics as too left-wing for the district, and in a broader national assessment of race and police, liberals It points out that she embraced the "police defense" message covered in 2020.
Biaggi said in interviews that she no longer uses the term because she fails to communicate the need for police reform. Her campaign armed volunteers with the issue of her use of the phrase, noting that her grandfather was a police officer and used the phrase while reacting to a horrific video showing the murder of George Floyd.
"This was like the moment she saw a very horrifying incident and tweeted about it. We shouldn't be ashamed of it." Because,” Cori Marquis, Biaggi’s campaign aide, explained to Sleepy Hollow volunteers who were preparing to knock on doors and pitch voters. “She has been very articulate in her speeches, actions and policies and is committed to working with all stakeholders to reform the criminal justice system.”
Biden said in 2020 In 2016, he won his district in a new congressional district by five points, but that northern region, represented by Maloney, strongly supported Republicans, and Donald Trump won his district in 2016. He was a Republican ten years before him and has been on the battlefield ever since.
Voters there want someone who can work across the aisle and beat the Republican Party, he argues.
Maloney's tackling of the problem across the aisles, especially the overthrow of one of the Republicans, drew backlash from his own party members, including harsh criticism from Biaggi.
} The House Democratic Campaign Division, chaired by Maloney, spent $425,000 on advertising campaigns in Michigan to boost far-right opponents of US Congressman Peter Meyer.
Meijer lost to a pro-Trump candidate, but Maloney said it only boosted prospects for the Democratic candidate in December. But members of his own party warn it was a risky gamble.
"It makes the Democrats feel like they're playing a game, but it's not a game," Biaggi said. Told. "I think it represents everything people hate about politics."
Maloney said he supports the move, although he understands people are arguing about tactics.
"My job is to win a seat. I'm more likely to win that seat now than I was before the primary, and that's the bottom line. And that's my responsibility." Completely stop," he said.