Mayoral candidate Maya Wiley accepted endorsements from a slate of progressive leaders, some of whom previously backed her opponent Scott Stringer, last week in Bushwick bar Pine Box Rock Shop. 

State Sen. Julia Salazar, State Assembly members Maritza Davila and Emily Gallagher and District Leader Samy Nemir-Olivares announced their support.  Sen. Salazar and Assemblymember Maritza Davila were part of a group of left-of-center elected officials who withdrew their support for Stringer in April after an allegation that he sexually harassed a campaign worker 20 years ago. 

Wiley, who served as counsel to Mayor Bill de Blasio and chair of the NYPD Civilian Complaint Review Board, emphasized that the progressive movement was unified in support of her campaign during the announcement. 

Mayoral Candidate Maya Wiley smiles as she accepts endorsements from local political leaders.
Wiley accepts endorsements from local political leaders.

“It is clear, and I say this with a humble honor, that I am the progressive that’s gonna win this race,” said Wiley.

Proving her point, the Working Families Party, which recently withdrew its support of Scott Stringer and mayoral candidate Diane Morales, also announced a full endorsement of Wiley on Friday afternoon. And on Saturday she received big endorsements from former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro and progressive Congresswoman from the Bronx Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. 

“Maya, to me, has been the most consistent candidate. She has been the candidate who has maintained integrity throughout her entire campaign,” said Sen. Salazar, explaining why she had decided to back Wiley. “That became evident and clearer to me the closer that we have gotten to election day.”

Congresswoman Nydia Valesquez, a long-time supporter of Wiley, was given some of the credit for bringing together the Bushwick progressives. Rep. Velazquez was not in attendance, but a representative spoke in her place. 

Early voting starts on June 12. Election day is June 22. Find your poll site here.

All photos courtesy of Erik Kantar.

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