Support for Brooklyn Councilman Inna Vernikov Intensifies
Brooklyn City Councilman Inna Vernikov is reportedly receiving strong backing from Donald Trump Jr. in her contentious Republican primary battle.
In a recent campaign video, Trump Jr. lauded Vernikov as a staunch advocate for MAGA and criticized her opponent, Ali Kagan, a former Democrat, calling him a “huck and fake Republican.”
Vernikov and Kagan are competing for the 48th Congressional District in southern Brooklyn, which includes areas like Gravesend, Coney Island, Brighton Beach, and others.
“Residents of the 48th District are really fortunate to have Inna Vernikov. She’s a fighter—just like our president—who won’t back down against radical left-wing efforts to undermine New York City,” Trump Jr. remarked.
“Inna has tirelessly fought to prevent political opportunists and fake Republicans from succeeding in their dangerous attempts to weaken our city’s leadership,” he added.
He urged supporters to rally behind Vernikov and vote for her, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the strength of the MAGA movement.
It seems fairly clear that President Trump himself values Vernikov, having met her in 2022, with a photo of them together circulating online.
Kagan, who switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in 2022, argues that the party has shifted too far left. He lost his council seat in a 2023 election against Democrat Justin Brannan in the neighboring 47th District.
Vernikov, who is 40, identifies as a “Ukrainian-born American Jew.”
She first secured her council seat in 2021, defeating Democratic candidate Stephen Saperstein by a significant margin.
During her time on the council, she has accused CUNY officials of not doing enough to address the rise of anti-Semitism on campuses and has openly condemned Russian actions in Ukraine.
Controversy emerged in 2023 when she was seen on video with a firearm while attending an anti-Israel protest at Brooklyn College. The gun charges against her were eventually dismissed, as prosecutors could not demonstrate that the weapon was functional.
Authorities stated that the gun was discovered to be “inoperable,” missing critical parts necessary for firing, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
While she held a concealed carry permit, it remains illegal in New York to carry firearms in sensitive areas, including protests and educational institutions.
Vernikov is viewed as a rising figure in the Republican Party, having been the keynote speaker at the 2022 State GOP Conference.
Kagan, who is 58 and originally from Minsk, Belarus, relocated to New York City after the Soviet Union dissolved. He has experience as a Russian journalist and television personality.
In response to the endorsement from Trump Jr., Kagan expressed skepticism, stating, “I don’t think he knows any details about local Republican politics. Inna was not a prominent council figure.”
