Cynthia Nixon Endorses Lamorte in Council Race

Nixon praises District 5 candidate’s commitment to disability justice

| 26 Apr 2021 | 12:03

Former gubernatorial candidate and New York icon Cynthia Nixon announced her endorsement of Rebecca Lamorte for City Council Monday, lauding Lamorte’s work as an advocate for disability justice.

Lamorte, who works as a lobbyist for some of the city’s unions and serves as a member of Community Board 8, is among the seven Democrats running to fill the seat of term-limited Council Member Ben Kallos in the city’s Fifth District, which encompasses Yorkville, Lenox Hill, Sutton Place, Midtown East, El Barrio and Roosevelt Island.

“As New York City recovers from the ravages of the pandemic it’s a critical moment to elect people who will fight for the needs of New York’s working families,” said Nixon, who has become a prominent figure on the left wing of the Democratic Party since her failed primary challenge to Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2018.

Nixon also praised Lamorte, who deals with limited mobility in one of her legs following a subway accident seven years ago, for centering accessibility in her campaign.

“As a disabled New Yorker and advocate, Rebecca has made accessibility and disability justice prominent issues in her race, and brought them to the forefront citywide,” said Nixon. “Rebecca’s work as a union advocate, community organizer, and disability justice leader have prepared her to hit the ground running, and make her exactly the kind of progressive champion we need in our next City Council.”

Lamorte thanked Nixon, acknowledging the impact Nixon’s campaign has had on New York politics.

“Cynthia’s 2018 run for governor shook up the status quo, and New York State is a different place because she took on the establishment and fought hard for the issues that matter to working families,” said Lamorte. “I am running for City Council to fight for the same policies that Cynthia fought for statewide, and I am so proud that she recognizes the campaign we have built is the one that will deliver progressive policies for the people here in District 5.”

Lamorte has recently received a dual endorsement from UES Progressives, a second-choice endorsement from Black Lives Caucus of BLM for Greater New York, and a third-choice endorsement from Progressive Women of New York.

The primary election will take place June 22.

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Rebecca’s work as a union advocate, community organizer, and disability justice leader have prepared her to hit the ground running, and make her exactly the kind of progressive champion we need in our next City Council.” -- Cynthia Nixon