A Message from New York County Democratic Committee Chairman Kyle H. Ishmael
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It’s the first day of early voting across the great State of New York and I find myself thinking about our role as New York Democrats. As New Yorkers, we have a history and familiarity with the wannabe-dictator in the White House. We’ve battled him in ways only we can. As our skyline, our culture, media, and attention have been peppered with his spectacle for many decades, New York leaders have gone toe-to-toe with Trump and are poised to once again lead the resistance in government should Democrats perform well this election cycle.
As the Chair of the New York County Democratic Committee (aka Manhattan Democratic Party), it’s my responsibility to encourage everyone to vote for Democratic candidates, but I do so with no illusions about the perception of my party. I know we largely benefit from a climate that is anti-Trump. But allow me to be a voice among the noise that makes the affirmative case for the Democratic brand – at least as we practice it here in Manhattan.
Many know of the tales of Tammany Hall – the Democratic machine that wielded immense, corrupt power until it was finally toppled and power was dispersed among the people.
What has been overlooked is the Manhattan Democratic Party that was rebuilt in the decades since. We are a brand of Democrats that center neighborhoods; that respect that communities will lift up their best leaders, and it is the role of the party to support the will of our voters and turn Democratic unity into governing majorities. That’s how we’ve built and maintained our big tent, and for the longest time could boast as being the only borough with zero elected Republicans – a distinction that earned us the nickname, “the blue seawall.”
In 2022, Manhattan’s blue seawall held off a red wave; in 2024, we boarded buses and partnered with Democrats across the state to execute the Governor’s plan to win back key seats in Congress. In 2025, we energized and grew the New York City electorate with our Democratic nominee for mayor, Zohran Kwame Mamdani; and in 2026, Manhattan Democrats are on buses, phones, doors and streets with a message of fighting for New York families, united behind our statewide candidates Kathy Hochul, Adrienne Adams, Tom DiNapoli, and Tish James – along with our congressional nominees, Brad Lander, Micah Lasher, and Darializa Avila Chevalier, and our slate of judicial candidates.
Throughout the borough, Manhattan Democrats have played host to candidates from across the country who visit our safe blue island to fundraise. We have opened our homes, our businesses, and our bank accounts to support the broader big tent that understands that when Democrats win in Michigan, Florida and Texas, we win right here in New York.
Whether you find yourself living uptown, downtown, or somewhere in between; whether you align ideologically with WFP, DSA, Indivisible, or any other political home that helps us organize not only against Trump but for an affirmative future, the Manhattan Democratic Party practices a brand of inclusive politics that seeks to be the ultimate electoral home for change – one that is responsive to voters and fighting for results they can feel.
In the waning years of the modern Trump era we find ourselves in, it is that much more important that Democrats begin to make a stronger case for who we are rather than who we are not. And in 2026 – as it is a year we elect our governor – New Yorkers have the opportunity to grow and influence the Democratic Party in a way that only comes around every four years. By voting for the nominees on the Democratic line in this year’s elections, the number of party positions available for local candidates increases, helping to ensure that our county’s Democratic Party remains the grassroots, reform organization we’ve established it to be since the bad old days.
To learn more about the Democratic candidates for office in Manhattan and join our efforts to win back the House and Senate, visit manhattandemocrats.org/election2026.
The polls are open – let’s win this!
Sincerely,
Kyle H. Ishmael
Chairman
New York County Democratic Committee
