<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1654625708936,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c2-d172-a563-4fead0ed0000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1654625708936,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000162-07c2-d172-a563-4fead0ed0000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_54620535", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1027703"} }); ","_id":"00000181-3f60-df81-a381-7f749c620000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedWhen Rep. Sean Maloney (D-NY) announced he was running for reelection in his state’s newly redrawn 17th Congressional District, forcing the more liberal Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY) to choose between facing off with him or running an underdog race in a far-away district, many progressive Democrats trained their fire on the powerful Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman. Now, Maloney’s primary opponent, left-wing state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, is gaining the support of one of the most prominent Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) announced her endorsement of Biaggi on Tuesday. On Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez praised the firebrand state senator, writing that “Alessandra was able to break through and deliver a series of progressive wins for New York State — now, she’s ready to take her leadership to Congress.” She is also expected to release a fundraising email on Biaggi’s behalf detailing her endorsement.
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Unlike the more centrist Maloney, Jones is seen as close to left-wing Democrats such as Ocasio-Cortez. Maloney’s decision to run in the 17th District infuriated allies of Jones, who saw it as a selfish attempt to ensure his own reelection in a district with a partisan voter index of D+7, indicating a clear preference for Democrats, instead of defending a more competitive D+3 district that is likely to be a top Republican target in this year’s midterm elections. Ocasio-Cortez previously called on Maloney to resign as head of the DCCC if he were to take on Jones in a primary.
Following the public announcement of the endorsement, Biaggi lauded Ocasio-Cortez as the “standard-bearer” of the Democratic Party. She also slammed Maloney’s decision to run in the 17th District, noting that as DCCC chairman, “his job is to maximize the number of seats that we have in the Democratic majority.”
“If he was doing his job, he would have stayed in [the 18th Congressional District],” Biaggi said.
Maloney said he doesn’t see any conflict between running the DCCC and making sure he is in a position to hold on to his seat in the House. He also played down Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to intervene in the race, maintaining that “this election comes down to voters in NY-17″ in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
“I am honored to have received overwhelming support locally, including endorsements from nearly 40 elected leaders and Democratic Party committees,” Maloney told the Washington Examiner. “I respect Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and have worked with her on a number of policy matters, including as a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal. But, on her endorsement, we are going to have to agree to disagree.”
Sources on Capitol Hill with knowledge of the situation told the Washington Examiner that they expect additional members of the left-wing “Squad” to follow Ocasio-Cortez in endorsing Biaggi. In contrast, Maloney has received endorsements from top Democratic leaders such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and is expected to have the support of the majority of House Democrats.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Jones’s election in the 10th District is by no means guaranteed. He faces prominent competitors with similar ideological profiles in the Democratic primary, including former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and state Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou.
Primary elections for New York’s congressional seats are set to be held on Aug. 23.
