City Council Progressive Caucus Alliance backs Jumaane Williams - and themselves - in first endorsements

The New York City Council Progressive Caucus Alliance – the political arm of the Progressive Caucus – is rolling out its first endorsements of the 2025 cycle, starting with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who is facing a challenge to his right in Queens Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar, and several members of the Progressive Caucus with more competitive challenges. That includes City Council Members Chris Marte, Pierina Sanchez, Shekar Krishnan, Julie Won, Nantasha Williams, Crystal Hudson, Alexa Avilés and Shahana Hanif.

“During their last two terms in the City Council, our colleagues have shown clear dedication to creating a more just, equitable, and affordable New York City for all,” the Progressive Caucus Alliance said in a statement. “It is critical to ensure that our strongest allies in the City Council return for their third term so we can continue the fight against corruption, xenophobia, transphobia, and fascism together.”

With those endorsements, Won said, the alliance will fundraise for candidates and help send volunteers their way as campaign season gets underway, in addition to giving general support on social media.

The move is something of a comeback for the alliance, which has been somewhat dormant for a few years. The alliance was formed back in 2012, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, then a member of the council, among its founding members. The alliance has not endorsed a slate of candidates since 2017. According to Won, the alliance’s hiatus from the endorsement game is simply the result of term limits and turnover in the caucus. “Now that it's on our official four-year mark, all of us have infrastructure politically in our district, we have high name recognition in our district,” Won said. “We have a lot of value add for anyone who's running a city wide office, and we also have a lot of value for our colleagues to validate them.” Plus, she said, the current political climate makes weighing in more pressing. “Can you imagine if we did nothing under a Trump presidency, as well as the corruption of Eric Adams, the demise of our city, having a vacuum of leadership in a city?”




https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2025/03/city-council-progressive-caucus-alliance-backs-jumaane-williams-and-themselves-first-endorsements/403539/?oref=csny-category-lander-river