John,

The New York Times just reported:

“The chairman of the New York State Democratic Party is pushing a proposal that would essentially neuter almost all third parties, crippling one of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s biggest political nemeses but also potentially helping conservatives.”¹

That “biggest political nemesis” of the corporate Democratic establishment in New York? In case you couldn’t guess — it’s us.

With the 2020 election just a year away, it is outrageous that Gov. Cuomo would act to empower the right wing in New York at the expense of our progressive movement. But we know Andrew Cuomo’s politics, we knew a sneak attack like this was coming — and we know we can stop it if we all come together.

Can you chip in to help WFP keep building this multiracial movement of working people that is so clearly terrifying Andrew Cuomo and the corporate Democratic establishment in New York and across the country? We can defeat these attacks, but only if we come together and show everyone the power of our movement.

Contribute »

Last year, WFP supported progressive primary challengers to candidates backed by big money up and down the ballot in New York — including Andrew Cuomo. We won big, defeating the turncoat "Democrats" of the IDC in the State Senate and ushering in a wave of progressive policy including landmark rent laws, climate legislation, criminal justice reform, and ensuring reproductive rights.

And this year, we’ve kept it up, backing transformational candidates like Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate of NYC, Tiffany Cabán for Queens DA — and hundreds of progressives in every corner of New York state and across the country who will be on the ballot just one week from today.

Andrew Cuomo doesn’t like any of that. He prefers divided government, where he can bottle up progressive legislation and be the kingmaker in every deal.

This new proposal by Cuomo’s hand-picked commissioner Jay Jacobs would quintuple the number of votes a third party like WFP would need to qualify for the ballot in New York state. If applied to last year’s results, that would mean the Conservative Party could end up the only third party with a ballot line in New York — handing not just progressives but all Democrats a major blow, and giving Republicans a huge gift.

The Public Financing Commission’s recommendations will have the power of law before the end of the year unless New York's state legislature acts. We can win this fight, but we don’t have much time.

Can you chip in to help the Working Families Party keep building our multiracial movement of working people in New York and across the nation? Add a contribution now to say you stand with WFP.

No matter what Andrew Cuomo says or does, we will never back down in the fight for economic justice and voting rights.

In solidarity,

Team WFP

Source:

1. Democrats’ Secret Plan to Kill Third Parties in New York, New York Times, October 29, 2019

Become a Working Families Party Sustainer! Other political groups have corporate donors. We have you. Just $10 a month supports our fight.

This is a message from New York Working Families Party.