big W for the big D in NY (w/ an assist from WF)

A special election in New York’s 48th state senate district on Tuesday saw Democrat Darrell Aubertine take what had long been a seat held by Republicans. As the New York Times points out, this switch puts New York Democrats within one seat of taking control of the State Senate, something they haven’t done in over 40 years.

It’s a big win for the Democrats, and a big win for some of Elliot Spitzer's consultants, who lent muscle to the Aubertine campaign, but (and missing from the Times article) it is also a big win for New York’s Working Families Party, who cross-endorsed Aubertine and ran his GOTV operations.

Under the peculiarities of NYS election law, candidates are allowed multiple listings on the ballot under the banner of separate parties, with all the votes for the same candidate being tallied together. This allows a progressive third party such as Working Families to pick like-minded candidates within the system, and give them the extra help and visibility the party can provide. Candidates that want the WFP endorsement have to speak to the party’s progressive ideals. The candidate then gains their help; the Working Families Party gains the visibility for their issues and the greater media attention that naturally gravitates to a traditional party candidate, But, best of all, the citizens of the Empire State gain another progressive lawmaker to fight for the rights and wellbeing of the less privileged and hard working people of New York.

Congratulation to Senator-elect Aubertine, congratulations to the NYS Democrats, and congratulations to the Working Families Party.


(cross-posted on The Seminal)