Opposition to Brooklyn Democratic Party Rule Changes
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pushing back against a last-minute initiative aimed at changing the rules of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. He believes that the proposed alterations would undermine the will of the voters, especially after the reformers made significant strides during the June primary.
“I strongly oppose these proposed changes put forth by the current chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party,” Mamdani stated. “This feels like an attempt to bypass what the voters have expressed.”
The chair, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, has suggested adding over two dozen new voting members to the party’s executive committee, which will have a role in selecting the party chair this fall. This comes on the heels of a successful June primary where reformers secured 22 district leader positions.
The newly elected district leaders won’t actually take office until the fall, meaning Bichotte Hermelyn and her backers currently maintain a majority. They’re set to vote on the proposed changes soon. Bichotte Hermelyn describes these changes as a way to encourage broader participation within the party.
In her words, “We want to foster a sense of inclusiveness.” She mentioned the proposals would help “expand leadership” and “broaden representation.”
Reformers are backing longtime district leader Julio Peña to take over as the next party chair. If these changes go through, those additional voting members would play a role in that leadership election.
Mamdani argues that the Brooklyn Democratic Party should be a true reflection of what New Yorkers desire, rather than what he sees as an outdated political approach that leaves many feeling disconnected from the process.
Also voicing concerns are New York Attorney General Letitia James and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, both of whom have urged the party to reconsider moving forward with these changes.
In a joint statement from James and Williams, they emphasized, “New Yorkers deserve leaders who are genuinely committed to their communities, rather than trying to rewrite rules in order to cling to power.” They warn that altering the composition of the executive committee right before a leadership vote contradicts the democratic principles they stand for.
Another notable proposal would allow former party chairs to continue voting in future leadership elections, even after stepping down from their district leader roles. This means former chair Clarence Norman, who resigned back in 2005 following corruption convictions, could potentially influence future party leadership.
Following the upcoming leadership election, a further change could see more voting members appointed from each Assembly district, possibly expanding the executive committee to about 90 members.
