New York’s most competitive congressional race is about to take center stage, as NY1 gathers the seven leading Democratic candidates for a live, televised debate next week. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed the following report.
At City University's Hostos Community College, the stage is being set. Monday night, seven Democrats vying for Charles Rangel’s congressional seat will face off just eight days before the primary.
"I think it's important for all of New Yorkers to pay attention, not just the residents of the 13th Congressional district but all of us. Because indeed, this is a district that has a lot of history," said Adam Clayton Powell IV, a candidate for Congress.
That history includes former Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell’s father, the famed Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who lost his seat in 1970 to Rangel, who is now retiring after nearly a half-century.
"It’s been 46 years of one representative in congress and more than 70 years with two people representing this district," said Michael Gallagher, a candidate for Congress.
Stay-at-home dad Michael Gallagher and faith leader and former ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook are among the lesser-known candidates hoping to break through Monday in a crowded field that includes current state legislators Guillermo Linares, Keith Wright and Adriano Espaillat.
"I was a diplomat for the United States of America. I was summoned from Harlem twice by two presidents of United States of America. That in itself is a distinction," Cook said.
The debate, hosted by NY1 and NY1 Noticias, in partnership with City & State magazine and the Latino Leadership Institute, comes as Assemblyman Wright, who’s collected the lion’s share of endorsements, including from Rangel himself, trades barbs with state Senator Espaillat over issues, including missed votes in Albany.
Clyde Williams, who this week became the first candidate to run TV ads, notes that Wright has control over the Board of Elections as head of the Manhattan Democratic party.
"So we think that the Board of Elections is going to do what’s right, considering that they’re biased already, that a person who is actually running who has the ability to get people employed there? I think not," Williams said.
The challenge for candidates Monday night will be not just convincing candidates here to vote for them, but to vote at all. The June 28 congressional primary, one of four elections taking place this year, is expected to draw an extremely low turnout.