#Democratic Socialists expected to shake up New York state Assembly

The socialists are coming — to the state Assembly.

A half dozen insurgent candidates in Brooklyn and Queens — some backed by the Democratic Socialists of America — toppled veterans incumbents in Democratic primary races, including close allies of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx).

With Heastie’s backing, the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee poured more than $400,000 combined to prop up 46-year-veteran Joe Lentol, Felix Ortiz and Walter Mosley in Brooklyn and Aravella Simotas, Michael Den Dekker and Michael Miller in Queens.

They all lost.

Insurgent Zohran Mamdani, who defeated four-term incumbent Aravella Simotas in the 36 AD covering Astoria, said in a tweet: “Socialism won.”

He was endorsed by DSA.

DACC donated $125,000 to Simotas’ reelection campaign.

But upstart Emily Gallagher delivered the biggest blow — upsetting 46-year veteran incumbent Joe Lentol in the 50th AD that encompasses Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Lentol is the third-longest serving Assembly member in history and chaired the codes committee that crafts criminal justice legislation, including controversial bail reform.

Her victory was even more impressive because she did not have the official backing of the DSA or the left-leaning Working Families Party, which endorsed Lentol. DACC also pumped more than $100,000 into Lentol’s re-election bid.

“I’m ready to get to work,” said Gallagher, who won with the backing of DSA.

She rapped Lentol for taking donations from law enforcement unions and real estate interests and more easily connected with younger voters’ concerns about housing, job security and mass transit.

Gallagher said she would push to raise income taxes on the “top one percent” to preserve services, adding, “We need the revenue to survive.”

Also in Brooklyn, Phara Souffrant Forrest, a field nurse, knocked off Walter Mosley in the 57th AD that takes in Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights and parts of Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Souffrant Forrest was backed by Ocasio-Cortez, DSA, “Sex and the City” actress and former gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon and other progressive groups.

“Together, we made history by electing a socialist nurse in the middle of the worst pandemic in 100 years,” she said.

As earlier reported, Marcela Mitaynes defeated the Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix Ortiz, a 26-year veteran, in the 51st AD that includes Red Hook and Sunset Park. Mitaynes was endorsed by AOC, DSA and the Working Families Party.

Two other Queens incumbents lost in changing districts with an influx of Hispanics and south Asian immigrants.

In Assembly District 34, which includes the hard-hit by coronavirus neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, Woodside, Corona, Elmhurst and Maspeth, Working Families Party favorite Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas handily defeated incumbent Michael DenDekker.

In District 38 (Ridgewood, Glendale, Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Richmond Hill), challenger Jenifer Rajkumar toppled Assemblyman Michael Miller.

Meanwhile five other progressive Democrats backed by the WFP and other progressive groups are expected are likely to win open Assembly seats.

The newcomers are expected to raise hell, but Albany watchers said the jury is out on how much impact they will have in a body with more than 100 Democrats — including many moderates representing suburban and upstate districts.

“Clearly the candidates who won have a more liberal, progressive agenda,” said University of Albany political science professor Bruce Gyory.

He said he believes Heastie’s position as speaker is secure.

Heastie personally called all the winning insurgents to congratulate them.

All the candidates are running in heavily Democratic districts and are expected to prevail in the general election.