Major Democratic Club Endorses Challenger In West Village Race
WEST VILLAGE, NY — Deborah Glick has represented Manhattan's 66th Assembly District for 30 years, but a prominent Democratic club just endorsed her challenger in the primary race to represent the West Village, Greenwich Village, SoHo, NoHo, and Tribeca.
The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, one of the largest in the city and most well known in Lower Manhattan, announced its endorsement Tuesday of newcomer candidate Ryder Kessler for the 66th Assembly seat.
The club, named for the legendary gay rights pioneer, was formed in 2004 to advance the rights of LGBTQ New Yorkers and all marginalized people.
"The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club is proud to endorse Ryder Kessler for Assembly," said club president Allen Roskoff, in a news release. "From supporting surrogacy to advocating for the decriminalization of sex work to empowering the small businesses that make our neighborhoods dynamic, we know Ryder will champion bold policies to confront our biggest challenges."
Kessler launched his campaign at the beginning of January as a first-time politician.
Kessler's career includes time in the private sector — he founded a tipping start-up called DipJar — and worked as a financial operative within New York's Democratic party, helping to form the PAC Flippable, according to his bio.
"I'm deeply honored to have the support of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club," Kessler said in a news release. "They have long been at the forefront of the fight for a more equitable and just New York, especially for the queer community that I am proud to be a part of."
"After many successes, we have much more to do to fully confront challenges like housing affordability and homelessness, segregation of our streets and schools, and mass incarceration and over-policing," he added.
Kessler securing the endorsement from The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club spells the beginning of what is gearing up to be a rare close race between Glick, who has held the Lower Manhattan Assembly seat since 1990, and a Democratic challenger.
Glick won easily in her 2020 reelection bid.
Glick made history when she first was elected to the seat as the first openly gay member of the state Legislature.
The longtime assembly member prioritizes small business promotion and historic district protection.
Glick has spoken out — some say worryingly— against overpopulation and the recently passed rezoning of Soho, which she criticized for not guaranteeing low-income housing.
Kessler, the former member of Manhattan Community Board 2's executive committee, says he envisions a city with more affordable housing and bike lanes and with less office space, elite high school entry exams and sex work arrests.
You can find out more about Kessler on his campaign website.