Brooklyn Dems pass rules to stymie reformers

Key Points:

• Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn successfully passed amendments to the party bylaws in a closed-door meeting to block reform District Leader Julio Peña III from becoming party chair, despite opposition from top state Democrats.
• The amendments expand the Executive Committee to include more elected leaders, which Bichotte Hermelyn argues increases transparency and strengthens the party’s fight for working families, but reformers claim the changes are illegal and plan to re-file a lawsuit.
• Reformers won a majority of executive committee seats in June and intended for Peña to become leader, but the vote is delayed until late September or early October, allowing Bichotte Hermelyn to maneuver changes favoring her supporters.
• The move faced backlash from prominent Democrats including Governor Kathy Hochul, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Attorney General Letitia James, and party leaders who view the timing and secrecy as harmful to party unity and democratic processes.
• Bichotte Hermelyn has not confirmed if she will seek reelection as party chair, but former leader Frank Seddio expressed support should she decide to run again.