OAN Deven Berryhill
UPDATED 1:00 PM PT – Friday, February 24, 2023
The Democrat Party in New York has been in disarray after losing four U.S. House Of Representatives seats to Republicans in the 2022 midterms.
Progressives Democrats in New York have directed much of the blame for their party losing four House seats at state party Chairman Jay Jacobs. Many in the party have claimed that Jacobs greatly contributed to Republicans retaking the U.S. House Of Representatives majority. Democrats have pegged the debacle in New York as essentially halting President Biden’s domestic agenda. The party chairman has faced numerous calls to step down as party leader since November.
“First of all, they have to run the party democratically. The Democratic Party has to become democratic. Right now, it vies with North Korea in their degree of democracy,” George Albro, the co-chair of Brooklyn Progressive Action Network said.
A week after the midterm election, more than 1,000 Democrats, including dozens of elected state officials, signed a letter saying that Jacobs has to go. The list of signers, most of whom belonged to the state’s progressive wing, included state legislators, City Council members, county leaders and members of New York’s 400-odd Democratic State Committee.
“Here in New York, however, the State Democratic Party, led by Cuomo appointee Jay Jacobs, failed to commit the time, energy and resources necessary to maintain our deep-blue status,” the letter states. “The writing is on the wall and has been for some time: Jay Jacobs is not fit to serve as Chair of the State Democratic Party.”
According to party insiders, Jacobs has a history of breaking from the progressive left. George Albro, a co-chair of the New York Progressive Action Network, had said that moderate Democrats have also joined the call to oust Jacobs.
“The party has to change, and it can’t change until we change the leadership,” said Albro. “From top to bottom, the Democratic Party in New York is a disaster.”
Jacobs has been open about his disagreements with the left wing of his party. The chairman has blamed most of the loss of House seats on Democrat Party progressives.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) backed Jacobs by saying, “I think he [Jacobs] did a great job as chair, and he continues as chair. We’re not changing anything.”