Ocasio-Cortez Backs Socialist Candidates in New York Primary
New York State Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is lending her support to three socialist candidates who are gearing up to take on incumbent Democrats in the upcoming primary. This includes the son of a well-known physician and a former campaign aide to Mayor Zoran Mamdani.
Bronx and Queens lawmakers made their endorsements known during a no-vote race on Thursday. This announcement coincided with Mamdani’s surprising backing of fellow Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Dalializa Avila Chevalier in her challenge against longtime Manhattan councilman Adriano Espaillat.
AOC’s endorsements include David Orkin, Christian Celeste Tate, and Eon Huntley—all aiming to push far-left policies in New York City, such as legalizing sex work and limiting NYPD cooperation with ICE.
Orkin, 35, is notably an anti-Israel activist and serves as a lawyer for Make the Road New York, an immigrant rights organization supported by George Soros. He is opposing Queens state Rep. Jennifer Rajkumar, advocating for raising the minimum wage to $30 an hour by 2030, particularly in areas like Richmond Hill and Woodhaven.
Interestingly, despite presenting himself as a “working-class” candidate, Orkin comes from privilege, being the son of famed physician Bruce Orkin and have grown up in a well-off area of Maryland. His senior thesis even explored “whiteness” at a farmers market in Poughkeepsie.
Huntley is running again against U.S. Rep. Stephanie Zinnerman in Brooklyn’s 56th District after a previous unsuccessful attempt. He has faced scrutiny for residing in a luxury building outside of his district, which had received tax incentives from developers—a situation he criticized during his campaign.
The 41-year-old’s platform includes abolishing tuition fees at state and city universities, along with crafting free public transportation initiatives similar to those suggested by Mamdani.
Celeste Tate, another ally of Mamdani, previously served as a field coordinator in his mayoral campaign and is currently challenging Congressman Eric Dylan in District 54, which stretches from East New York to Bushwick. Tate supports decriminalizing sex work, echoing Mamdani’s campaign themes.
In candidate surveys, they have labeled law enforcement as often “abusive” towards sex workers, claiming that police are unlikely to assist in dangerous situations. Ocasio-Cortez also endorsed Eli Northrup, the only non-DSA candidate among them, who is not facing an incumbent.
Northrup, a 41-year-old public defender who previously worked as policy director for Bronx Defenders, is challenging Rabbi Stephanie Lasky in Upper West Side Assembly District 69. He lists “protecting New York from Trump and ICE” as a key priority and backs the controversial New York for All law, which limits cooperation between state and federal immigration authorities.
Additionally, he endorses Mamdani’s proposed community safety department aimed at deploying social workers for mental health consultations instead of police. Mamdani had initially pushed for a $1.1 billion agency, which was later scaled down to $260 million in the city budget.
Prior to this, Northrup made an unsuccessful bid against House candidate Micah Lasher. As of now, none of the candidates have replied to requests for comments.
