Brooklyn Democratic Party

Kings County Democratic County Committee
ChairpersonNydia Velázquez
Interim Executive DirectorPriscilla Chery
HeadquartersBrooklyn, NY
IdeologyModern American liberalism
Progressivism
National affiliationDemocratic Party
Colors  Blue
New York State Assembly (Brooklyn Seats)
17 / 21
New York State Senate (Brooklyn Seats)
9 / 10
Citywide Executive Offices
3 / 3
New York City Council (Brooklyn Seats)
12 / 15
Website
brooklyndems.com

The Brooklyn Democratic Party, officially the Kings County Democratic County Committee, is the county committee of the Democratic Party in the New York City borough of Brooklyn (Kings County). It is the most local level of party governance in New York. Kings County Democratic County Committee is one of the largest Democratic county organizations in the United States, and the largest that is not its own city.

In New York, county executive committees typically select candidates for local public offices, with the county committees ratifying the selections, including judicial candidates and the Democratic Party's nominee in special elections.

A vast number of county committee seats are left unfilled, undermining broad participation in county decision-making.

Structure

The New York Election Law defines the structure of political parties and requires each party to have county committees. County committees are composed of at least two members elected from each election district, and in New York City assembly district leaders, elected at the primary for each assembly district or part of an assembly district, are automatically members. Leadership of the party is held by the Chairman of the Executive Committee, voted on by the State Committee members (who collectively form the Executive Committee). Chairmen are known colloquially as "Brooklyn Boss" or "Party Boss."

Every two years, Democrats in each assembly district elect two district leaders: one male, one female. In principle, county committee members select the county committee chair, but in New York City the practice is that the district leaders control the choice. The district leaders and chair make up the executive committee of the county committee. There are 21 assembly districts in Brooklyn, so when all seats are filled, the executive committee has 42 members.[citation needed] Each election district is made up of a small number of city blocks. Each election district has 2 to 4 seats in the general membership of the county committee, so when all the seats are filled, there are approximately 3000 members.

As of 2005, Brooklyn was home to 929,459 enrolled Democrats. There are approximately 10,000 seats on the County Committee, nearly half of which are typically unfilled. There are forty-two elected State Committee members (who also function as assembly district leaders), a male and female for each assembly district in the county, two of each in more populous districts. The Executive Committee is composed of the State Committee members from Brooklyn along with the elected officers of the County Committee.

Criticism and controversies

A demonstration outside a September 2014 meeting

A 2005 study by the Grassroots Initiative found that in New York City more than 50% of all county committee seats were vacant and that 98% of committee member elections were uncontested.

Although New York's judicial nominating conventions have been criticized as opaque, brief and dominated by county party leaders, critics claim that in heavily Democratic Brooklyn, party control is extreme. While voters choose delegates to the judicial nominating conventions which pick New York Supreme Court judges, the powerful Democratic machine usually controls the delegates, which critics say gives the party almost virtual control over judge selection.

#RepYourBlock

In 2016 a campaign titled #RepYourBlock was led by New Kings Democrats, in collaboration with other Brooklyn political clubs, local progressive politicians and candidates, and everyday citizens, to help reform-minded Democratic voters run for County Committee.

2016 reform attempt

In September 2016 at the first county committee meeting of the new term, the Kings County Democratic County Committee blocked a vote on a set of ethics and transparency amendments to the governing rules proposed by reform activists. The reform amendments were proposed by Brooklyn reform clubs the New Kings Democrats, Prospect Heights Democrats for Reform, and Southern Brooklyn Democrats with the main objectives of:

  1. Increasing transparency in Executive Committee decision-making processes like the nomination of judges
  2. Strengthening party ethics to disallow public officials who have been convicted of public malfeasance from being supported by the party
  3. Broadening participation by limiting the use of proxy votes and allowing for resolutions to be distributed via email and posting on the party website

The proposed reforms were motioned for a vote as five separate amendments to the party rules by committee members. The amendments were motioned for review by the party's executive committee instead of being afforded an up or down vote by the county committee's members. In response to the absence of a committee vote on the proposed reforms, the auditorium erupted into chants of "Reform Now!" followed by impassioned pleas by county committee members to the borough leadership. The general county committee meeting was ended abruptly and prior to the completion of full agenda.

Kings County Party chairman Frank Seddio, who replaced disgraced late Assemblyman Vito Lopez, promised a review of the progressive reforms by a committee made up of members of his choosing.

2020s

In January 2020, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn was chosen to succeed Frank Seddio as Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair. In August 2022, a closed-door meeting of the Brooklyn Democratic Party Executive Committee voted to consolidate power in her hands, where the Committee passed several rule changes meant to blunt the ability of the newly-elected County Committee reformist bloc to enact democratizing reforms.

In December 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, newly elected county leader Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn oversaw a contentious organizational meeting of the Kings County Democratic County Committee that stretched for roughly 26 hours over two days and prompted legal challenges from reform-oriented district leaders and clubs over party rules, vacancy appointments, and the handling of proxy votes.

In November 2023, Chair Bichotte Hermelyn was accused of undermining the re-election campaign of Democratic candidate and City Council Member Justin Brannan in a hotly contested Southern Brooklyn election where Republicans have claimed victories in recent years.

In February 2026, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and a few District Leaders rescinded its endorsement of Governor Kathy Hochul ahead of the New York State Democratic Convention after Hochul selected former New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams as her running mate for lieutenant governor. The county organization’s statement criticized the governor’s decision as a “political miscalculation” and faulted her for not consulting Brooklyn party leaders before making the announcement. Party chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn argued that the choice could hurt Democrats in down-ballot races, while several district leaders and local elected officials publicly opposed the move and called for greater transparency and noted that there was no official vote to rescind the endorsement. After backlash from within the party and from prominent Brooklyn Democrats who continued to back Hochul and Adams, the county organization later moved to reaffirm its support for the Democratic statewide ticket before the general election.

Brooklyn Can't Wait and 2026 restructuring

In the state primary election held on June 23, 2026, 22 candidates aligned with the "Brooklyn Can't Wait" reformer slate won a majority of the party's committee seats. On July 17, 2026, it was announced the incoming committee members had agreed to support district leader Julio Peña III as chair against Bichotte Hermelyn in leadership elections to be held in September 2026.

In August 2026, Bichotte Hermelyn proposed expanding executive committee voting to unelected county committee delegates. The move was viewed as "power grab" to keep the Brooklyn Can't Wait slate from voting for Peña and instead preserving Bichotte Hermelyn as chair. Governor Kathy Hochul, mayor Zohran Mamdani, attorney general Letitia James, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York State Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs among others publicly came out against the plan. On August 25, district leaders, including all lame duck district leaders who had lost their primaries to Brooklyn Can't Wait candidates, narrowly voted to approve the expansion.

On September 14th, New York Supreme Court justice Jill Epstein struck down the proposed rule change and expansion, finding the vote was "improper" and its results null and void. On September 29th, an apellate court affirmed the ruling.

In early October, New York Supreme Court justice Lisa Lewis ruled that Bichotte Hermelyn's term ended on September 23rd when party leadership neglected to put a candidate on the ballot during an organizational meeting, finding that U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez was the party's interim chair after the meeting.

During an October 4 virtual meeting, assemblymember Nikki Lucas was voted chair of the party by Bichotte Hermelyn and several allies despite a temporary restraining order blocking the party from any votes on a new chair. The party then announced Lucas as its chair the following day. Lawyers for the reformers filed to pursue contempt of court charges against the vote's participants.

History

Democratic politics in Brooklyn have long been fractious, "between regulars and reformers and along ethnic and then racial lines." However, the tension between "regulars" and "reformers" has always been somewhat fluid, as past bosses have acknowledged. "Today's reformer is tomorrow's hack," party boss Meade Esposito is reputed to have said, and later boss Clarence Norman echoed those sentiments, once asserting "When you're on the outside, you're a reformer; when you're on the inside, you're a regular. Let's be for real."

Corruption has been an issue in the party, as four of five party bosses (Steingut, Esposito, Norman, and Lopez) were investigated or indicted on corruption charges (in the case of Steingut, after leaving office). For example, in 2003, Supreme Court Judge Gerald Garson, the treasurer of the Kings County Democratic County Committee, was indicted for bribery.

The party boss in Brooklyn was for most of the 20th century a figure of national influence and power; however, that influence has waned. Former boss Vito Lopez has been described as "one of the last of the city's political kingmakers."

List of chairpersons since the 20th century

After 1990, the New York City Charter banned party chairs from simultaneously hold a county or city office. This resulted in Howard Golden relinquishing his party office to remain Brooklyn Borough President. Those holding state offices are still eligible.

In 2026 Nydia Velázquez was recognized as the legitimate interim chairperson by Supreme Court judge Lisa Lewis. Following this, Nikki Lucas was elected chairperson by a faction loyal to outgoing chairperson Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. Both Velázquez and Lucas are listed as "disputed" below with the date of their claimed appointments as the beginning of their term.

Name (with years of birth & death) Term beginning Term end
Hugh McLaughlin (1827–1904)1870 (ca.) 1903
Patrick H. McCarren (1849–1909)1903 October 23, 1909 (death)
John H. McCooey (1864–1934)November 12, 1909 January 21, 1934 (death)
Thomas F. Wogan, Francis J. Sinnott, Frank V. Kelly (committee)February 26, 1934 September 24, 1934
Frank V. Kelly (1880–1946)September 24, 1934 July 5, 1946 (death)
John Cashmore (1895–1961)August 10, 1946 July 28, 1950
Francis J. Sinnott (c. 1891–1956)July 28, 1950 December 29, 1952
Kenneth F. Sutherland (1888–1954)December 29, 1952 April 8, 1954
Joseph T. Sharkey (1893–1991)April 8, 1954 January 18, 1962
John J. Lynch, Aaron L. Jacoby, Gardner C. Taylor (committee)January 18, 1962 November 19, 1962
Stanley Steingut (1920–1989)November 19, 1962 January 10, 1969
Meade Esposito (1907–1993)January 10, 1969 January 25, 1984
Howard Golden (1925–2024)January 25, 1984 October 29, 1990
Clarence Norman Jr. (1951– )October 29, 1990 September 28, 2005
Vito J. Lopez (1941–2015)October 20, 2005 August 28, 2012
Frank R. Seddio (1946– )September 19, 2012 January 15, 2020
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (1972– )January 20, 2020 September 23, 2026
disputed: Nydia Velázquez (1953– ),September 23, 2026
disputed: Nikki Lucas (1970– ) October 4, 2026

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Donaldson, Sahalie; Coltin, Jeff (October 2, 2026). "Velázquez, not Bichotte Hermelyn, leads BK Dems, judge rules". City & State New York. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  2. ↑ "BP Markowitz Calls on Democratic Party to Select Frank Seddio as New Kings County Democratic Chair" (Press release). August 29, 2012.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. 1 2 3 Zimmerman 2008, p. 55.
  4. ↑ Khan, Yasmeen (September 20, 2018). "Ask A Reporter: What's Up With NYC's County Committees?". Gothamist. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ "FAQ".
  6. ↑ Election Law article 2
  7. ↑ Zimmerman, Joseph F. (2008). The Government and Politics of New York State (2nd ed.). SUNY Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-7435-8.
  8. ↑ Election Law § 2-104. Election Law § 2-110(2).
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Roberts, Sam; Hicks, Jonathan P. (October 2, 2005). "Democratic Leader's Demise Followed His Organization's Slide". The New York Times.
  10. 1 2 Benjamin, Gerald (2012). Benjamin, Gerald (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of New York State Government and Politics. p. 55. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195387230.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-538723-0.
  11. ↑ Rules for the Government of the Kings County Democratic County Committee, Article V, § 11
  12. ↑ Rules for the Government of the Kings County Democratic County Committee, Article V, § 1
  13. ↑ Williams, Milton L. (September 19, 2012). "A better way to pick New York judges". New York Daily News.
  14. 1 2 3 Marks, Alexandra (August 12, 2003). "In Brooklyn, fixing a 'corrupt' court system". The Christian Science Monitor.
  15. ↑ "Rep Your Block".
  16. 1 2 "New Kings Democrats".
  17. ↑ "Kings County Democratic Committee Blocks Reforms on Transparency and Ethics". New Kings Democrats. September 22, 2016.
  18. ↑ "The Brooklyn Democratic Party Passes Landmark Reforms to Party to Usher in Era of Increased Transparency and Participation Rules". New Kings Democrats. May 30, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Prospect Heights Democrats for Reform".
  20. ↑ "Southern Brooklyn Democrats". December 18, 2019.
  21. ↑ "WNYC - Brooklyn Democrats Get New Leader".
  22. ↑ Cuba, Julianne (September 23, 2016). "Brooklyn Democratic Party boss delays transparency, ethics reforms". Brooklyn Daily.
  23. ↑ "Assemblywoman Bichotte Makes HER-story as First Woman Elected as Brooklyn Dem Party Leader". Brooklyn Reader. January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on January 30, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  24. ↑ Joseph, George; Gonen, Yoav (August 31, 2022). "Brooklyn Democratic Party Execs Change Rules to Protect Their Power". The City. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  25. ↑ Sterne, Peter (November 8, 2023). "Bichotte makes the case for being a unifier". City & State NY. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  26. ↑ Lewis, Rebecca C. (December 29, 2020). "Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn's no-good, very bad night". City & State NY. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  27. ↑ Sommerfeldt, Chris; Anuta, Joe (February 6, 2026). "Brooklyn Democrats' fiasco over Hochul endorsement reveals a party in disarray". Politico. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  28. ↑ Donaldson, Sahalie (June 24, 2026). "Reformers clinch a majority of Brooklyn DL seats, threatening Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn's power". City and State. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  29. ↑ Gross, Courtney (July 17, 2026). "Reform Democrats pick candidate for new Brooklyn Democratic chair". NY1. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  30. ↑ Coltin, Jeff (August 25, 2026). "Brooklyn Dems pass rules to stymie reformers". City & State. Retrieved August 26, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Judge strikes down rule changes favored by Brooklyn Democratic Party chair". Spectrum News One. September 14, 2026. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
  32. ↑ Gross, Courtney (September 29, 2026). "Appellate court rejects new rules sought by Brooklyn Democrats". Spectrum News One. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
  33. ↑ Brendlen, Kirstyn (October 5, 2026). "Brooklyn Dems claim to elect new chair, despite court orders". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved October 5, 2026.
  34. 1 2 Donaldson, Sahalie (October 5, 2026). "Lucas claims leadership of BK Dems – in apparent violation of court order". City & State. Retrieved October 5, 2026.}
  35. ↑ Barrett, Wayne. City for Sale: Ed Koch and the Betrayal of New York. The Nation Institute. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
  36. ↑ Roberts, Sam (May 23, 2010). "Now, City Party Bosses Do Little Moving and Shaking". The New York Times.
  37. ↑ Kleinfield, N. R.; Rashbaum, William K.; Goldstein, Joseph (September 4, 2012). "If This Brooklyn Kingmaker Is Asking, Saying No Is Risky Option". The New York Times.
  38. ↑ Kolbert, Elizabeth (October 24, 1990). "New York City Wins Right to Bar Officials From Party Positions". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  39. 1 2 Lynn, Frank (October 25, 1990). "Brooklyn Democrats Fight for Top Party Post". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  40. ↑ "The Contest in Brooklyn". The New York Times. October 24, 1875. p. 6. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  41. ↑ "M'Carren is Dead; Lingered All Day — Senator's Last Farewells to His Relatives and His Friend, Controller Metz — Died at 1:05 This Morning — Suffered Great Pain All Day and Nights — News Kept from His Aged Mother". The New York Times. October 23, 1909. p. 1. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  42. ↑ "McCooey in Leader's Chair — Makes a Ruling for the Guidance of Office Seekers". The New York Times. November 13, 1909. p. 8. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  43. ↑ "John H. McCooey is Dead of Heart Ailment at 69; Brooklyn 'Boss' 25 Years — Was Long in Poor Health — The Veteran Democrat Succumbs in a Coma With Family Near — Power Had Been Waning — One-Time Shipyard Worker in Public, but Never Elective Office for 42 Years — Funeral on Wednesday — Lehman Heads Pallbearers — Hundreds Pay Tribute to Leader's Qualities". The New York Times. January 22, 1934.
  44. ↑ "Committee Named to Succeed M'Cooey — Triumvirate to Govern the Brooklyn Organization Till After Fall Primaries — Farley's Advice Heeded — Action Is Expected to Clear Up Patronage Situation Affecting Federal Jobs". The New York Times. February 27, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  45. 1 2 "Kelly is Elected to M'Cooey Post — Kings Democrats Choose Foe of Tammany Invasion to Succeed Triumvirate — Selection is Unanimous — New Leader, Backed by Farley, Hails Unity and Pledges Support to Roosevelt". The New York Times. September 25, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  46. 1 2 "Frank Kelly Dies; Brooklyn Leader: Democratic Party Chieftain For 12 Years Was Successor to Late John H. McCooey — Supporter of Roosevelt — One of Group That Swung to Truman in 1944 — O'Dwyer Cuts Vacation to Return". The New York Times. July 6, 1946. p. 15.
  47. 1 2 3 "Sinnott is Chosen by Unanimous Vote — Succeeds Cashmore, Target of Mayor, As New Brooklyn Democratic Leader". The New York Times. July 29, 1950. p. 1.
  48. ↑ Hagerty, James A. (August 10, 1946). "Cashmore Elected Brooklyn Leader — Chosen Unanimously by County Democratic Committee to Succeed Frank Kelly". The New York Times. p. 14. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  49. ↑ Hagerty, James A. (July 26, 1950). "Cashmore to Quit as Leader in Kings — Agrees to Resign if Sinnott Is Elected as Successor — Mayor Said to Approve". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  50. ↑ "Francis Sinnott, Brooklyn Leader: Kings County Clerk Who Had Been Democratic Chief and Postmaster There Dies". The New York Times. September 17, 1956. p. 27.
  51. 1 2 McCaffrey, James P. (December 30, 1952). "Kings Democrats Elect Sutherland — New County Leader, Replacing Sinnott, Calls for an End to Brooklyn Factionalism". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  52. ↑ "K.F. Sutherland Dies in Brooklyn — Democratic Leader in Coney Island and County Brought Many to Political Office". The New York Times. November 15, 1954.
  53. ↑ "Sharkey Is Due to Get Top Kings Party Job". The New York Times. April 8, 1954. p. 1.
  54. ↑ Fowler, Glenn (January 3, 1991). "Joseph Sharkey, 97, Former Head Of New York City Council, Is Dead". The New York Times. (Start of tenure misreported as 1953.)
  55. ↑ "Sharkey Elected Brooklyn Leader — Last Minute Entry, Succeeding Sutherland, Is Put Over by Wagner and DeSapio". The New York Times. April 9, 1954. p. 14. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  56. 1 2 Egan, Leo (January 19, 1962). "3 of Mayor's Men Succeed Sharkey — Brooklyn Leadership Panel Is Ordered by Wagner". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  57. 1 2 Egan, Leo (November 20, 1962). "Steingut Chosen Brooklyn Chief; Wagner is Defied — Assemblyman Beats Travia, 25 to 19, in Voting by Borough's Democrats". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  58. 1 2 Ronan, Thomas P. (January 11, 1969). "New Brooklyn Leader — Meade Henry Esposito". The New York Times. p. 34. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  59. ↑ Carroll, Maurice (January 8, 1975). "Brooklyn Democrat Takes Over Vowing to Reduce Dominant Role of Speaker". The New York Times. p. 34.
  60. ↑ Carroll, Maurice (January 19, 1984). "Esposito Says He'll Retire as Brooklyn Party Chief". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  61. ↑ Carroll, Maurice (January 26, 1984). "Democrats Pick Golden to Head Brooklyn Party". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  62. ↑ "Assemblyman Is Voted Leader Of the Democrats in Brooklyn". The New York Times. October 30, 1990. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  63. ↑ Hicks, Jonathan P. (September 29, 2005). "Democrats Start Scrambling to Fill Norman's Three Posts". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  64. ↑ "Lopez Wins Brooklyn Post". The New York Times. October 21, 2005. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  65. ↑ Goldenberg, Sally (August 28, 2012). "Vito Lopez announces resignation from Brooklyn Democratic Chairman position". New York Post. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  66. ↑ Berger, Joseph (September 20, 2012). "Longtime Lopez Colleague Chosen to Lead Brooklyn Democrats". The New York Times. p. A24. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  67. ↑ Coltin, Jeff (January 15, 2020). "Seddio goes out like a boss – The Brooklyn Democratic leader united the party, but left it broke". City and State – New York. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  68. ↑ Katinas, Paula (January 21, 2020). "Bichotte elected Brooklyn Democratic Party chair". Brooklyn Reporter. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  69. ↑ Hogan, Gwynne (September 24, 2026). "Raucous Brooklyn Party Meeting Rubber-Stamps Rule Changes That Judge Found Illegal". The City Reporter. Retrieved October 1, 2026.
  70. ↑ Donaldson, Sahalie (October 5, 2026). "Lucas claims leadership of BK Dems – in apparent violation of court order". City & State NY. Retrieved October 19, 2026.

Further reading