Manhattan Democratic Party

On behalf of the Manhattan Democratic Party, County Leader Keith L.T. Wright and Judiciary Co-Chairs Curtis Arluck and Rebecca Weintraub, we sincerely thank the 2025 Independent Judicial Screening Panel and its administrator for their diligent work, and we congratulate all the applicants. As per the report of the 2025 Independent Screening Panel, the following candidates have been identified as most highly qualified:

Civil Court
Onya U. Brinson
Keshia J. Espinal
Colleen K. Faherty
Jennifer Marie Frankola-Crawford
Vlad Frants
Eric J. Wursthorn

Upon a vote of the Executive Committee on Monday, July 7, 2025, the Manhattan Democratic Party elected to endorse Democratic Nominees in the upcoming 2025 General Election. County Leader Keith L.T. Wright issued the following statement.

“Tonight, the Manhattan Democratic Party’s Executive Committee was proud to endorse Assemblyman Zohran K. Mamdani for Mayor. While Democratic Clubs across our borough made their own endorsements for the June Primary, we are excited to come together as one party and support Assemblyman Mamdani’s vision for a Manhattan and a New York City that are affordable for those who keep our city running every day. We look forward to working closely to maintain the dramatic increase in voter engagement and turnout we saw this June and grow it for the November General Election.

In keeping with Party unity, we were also proud to endorse our other Democratic Nominees for citywide races. We offer congratulations and look forward to continuing to work with Jumaane Williams as Public Advocate, Mark Levine as Comptroller, Brad Hoylman-Sigal as Borough President, and Alvin Bragg as District Attorney.”
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The New York County Democratic Committee previously announced the formation of an Independent Judicial Screening Panel. As an update, the screening panel for 2025, administered by Hon. Rolando Acosta, Esq., consists of:

David Mou | Asian American Bar Association of New York
Tiffany Miao | Asian American Bar Association of New York
Rob Rickner | Brehon Law Society
Molly Senack | Center for Independence for the Disabled
Ralph E. Preite | Columbian Lawyers Association
Jeanette Cepeda | Dominican Bar Association
Jason Zakai | Jewish Lawyers Guild
Christina Nguyen | Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York
Dante Bellardita-Fernandez | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Bar Association of Greater New York (LeGaL)
Reginald Greene | Metropolitan Black Bar Association
Donnell Bolden | Mid Manhattan Branch of the NAACP
Marijo Adimey | New York State Trial Lawyers Association
Marcia Maxwell | New York Urban League
Dawn M. Cardi | New York Women’s Bar Association
Molly Mangus | Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation
Erika Calderon | Puerto Rican Bar Association
Urvashi Sinha | South Asian Bar Association of New York
Oksana Pelekh | Ukrainian American Bar Association
Rikki L. Davidoff | Women’s Trial Lawyers Caucus

The New York County Democratic Committee has announced the formation of an Independent Screening Panel to report on the qualifications of candidates seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party for three (3) seats on the New York State Supreme Court; one (1) seat in the 3rd Municipal Court District; and, one (1) seat in the 7th Municipal Court District, to be elected in the November 2025 general election. The heads of numerous bar associations, community organizations and law schools have been invited to nominate members of the panel, which will be directed to report a total of no more than the three (3) most highly qualified candidates per vacancy.

Candidates for the nomination may obtain applications from Kyle Ishmael, Esq., Executive Director for the Manhattan Democratic Party, via email at manhattandems@gmail.com. The deadline for submitting completed applications is Friday, June 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM.

2025 Judicial Political Calendar
Wednesday, June 4 | Judicial Applications available
Friday, June 13 @ 5pm | Judicial Applications due
*Tuesday, June 17 | Independent Screening Panel convenes
*Thursday, July 10 | Civil Court Screening Panel reports out results
*Thursday, July 24 | Supreme Court Screening Panel reports out results
Monday, August 11 | New York County Democratic Judicial Convention

*subject to change

The New York County Democratic Committee mourns the passing and celebrates the life of Veteran, District Leader and Congressman Charles B. Rangel; in memory of all who gave their all, we honor their bravery on this Memorial Day. County Leader Keith L.T. Wright issued the following joint statement:

It is with heavy hearts and profound respect that we join the Harlem community—and the nation—in mourning the passing of Congressman Charles B. Rangel, a towering figure in American politics and a beloved son of Harlem.

The entire country knew Congressman Rangel for his long list of legislative accomplishments in Congress: serving on the Watergate Commission, writing and passing the “Rangel Amendment” sanctions on US companies who did business in apartheid South Africa, creating the Empowerment Zones, passing the New GI Bill for veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax, and the stimulus bills to help the economy survive the 2008 Financial Crisis, to name but a few. But for our us, this loss is deeply personal.

Congressman Rangel was more than a political legend—he was family. He worked side by side with our patriarch, Judge Bruce M. Wright, and was a mentor, a protector, and a friend across generations. As a young boy, Keith remembers Congressman Rangel—then an intern at the law firm of Weaver, Evans, Wingate & Wright—picking him up from school, long before either of them knew they would go on to serve the same community in the same New York State Assembly seat that Charlie once held. That same path of public service continues today with Jordan, who—as Rangel’s last endorsed candidate—proudly carries forward the legacy of leadership rooted in Harlem.

Congressman Rangel’s life was a masterclass in dignity, resilience, and unshakable commitment to justice. A war hero—fitting on this Memorial Day, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and one of the longest-serving members in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives, Charlie never forgot where he came from—or who he fought for. He transformed the political landscape of this nation, but he never stopped walking the streets of Harlem, listening to his neighbors, and lifting up future generations.

We are proud to have walked with him, learned from him, and loved him.

To the Rangel family, you are in our hearts. Thank you for sharing Charlie and Alma with the world, and especially with Harlem. His voice may be silent, but his legacy will speak for generations.

Rest in power, Congressman. We will carry your light forward.

Keith L.T. Wright
County Leader, Manhattan Democratic Party
Former Assemblyman, 70th District

Jordan J.G. Wright
Assemblyman, 70th District

Following the February 10, 2025 Report of the Ethics Committee of the New York County Democratic Committee (NYCDC) finding that members of the NYCDC Executive Committee violated Article II, Section 6 of the Rules and Regulations of the NYCDC at the Organizing Meeting held October 5, 2023, the Executive Committee voted at its April 16, 2025 meeting to adopt the following resolution apologizing to the 23 complainant County Committee Members who were affected by the Rules violations.

Resolution:
WHEREAS, it is critical at this time that Democrats unite, not just around opposition to Donald Trump, but also in the scary possibility that Republicans could be elected as Mayor or Governor in the next two years; and

WHEREAS, we all as District Leaders volunteer to do work that is fundamental to the democratic process; and

WHEREAS, it is to our credit that our county can have a contested election for county leadership; and

WHEREAS, there was chaos at our 2023 County Committee Organizing Meeting that worked to undermine the ability of some County Committee Members to fully participate; and

WHEREAS, in the end, all Assembly District votes were counted, including the 23 complaining County Committee Members; and

WHEREAS we need to assure that this does not happen again,

IT IS NOW RESOLVED:

That the New York County Democratic Committee’s Executive Committee apologizes to the 23 County Committee Members who have presented themselves as aggrieved; and

That the County Committee Task Force set up comprehensive procedures and rules for the next County Committee Organizing Meeting when we will ensure that check-in and voting goes smoothly and proceeds in a democratic manner.

The Manhattan Democratic Party offers our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the beloved Hon. Carol Edmead, former judge and Manhattan’s Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner.

“Judge Edmead has been the consummate public servant”, said County Leader Keith L.T. Wright. “A former Democratic Club President, Surrogate Court Judge, and Supreme Court Justice, Judge Edmead went on to serve our County well at the Board of Elections during her years of retirement, continuously dedicating herself to the judiciary. We are grieving this sudden loss and keeping Judge Edmead’s family and memory particularly close during this holiday season.”

On Thursday, August 8th, the recently-elected Democratic Judicial Delegates of the 1st Judicial District convened for the Manhattan Democratic Party’s 2024 Supreme Court Judicial Convention.

Greeted by County Leader Keith L.T. Wright, and Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assemblymember Alex Bores, Democrats and guests convened at Manhattan’s beautiful Society for Ethical Culture to consider the large, diverse group of highly-qualified candidates who have been reported out of independent judicial screening panels. After all voices were heard in a show of transparent democracy, the following candidates were selected as the 2024 Democratic Nominees for the 1st Judicial District election to be held on November 5th:

Hon. Cynthia Kern
Hon. Gerry Lebovits

On July 24, 2024, the Supreme Court Independent Screening Panel concluded its deliberations by reporting out as most highly qualified the following candidates:

Hon. Christopher Chin
Hon. Ashlee Crawford
Hon. Cynthia Kern
Hon. Hasa Abas Kingo

The Judiciary Committee of the Manhattan Democratic Party has approved the report of the screening panel, administered by Valecia Battle, which extensively reviewed the background and experience of a number of applicants and determined these well-deserved candidates would be most qualified to vie for Supreme Courts to be filled at the general election set for November 5, 2024.

On behalf of the Manhattan Democratic Party, County Leader Keith L.T. Wright and Judiciary Co-Chairs Curtis Arluck and Rebecca Weintraub, we sincerely thank the panel and its administrator for their diligent work and congratulate the applicants who join the following candidates reported out of previous panels:

Hon. Suzanne Adams
Hon. Shahabuddeen Ally
Hon. Jim Clynes
Hon. Judy Kim
Hon. Gerald Lebovits
Hon. Ilana Marcus

In compliance with Governor Hochul’s signature of S.9839, the Executive Committee of the Manhattan Democratic Party met on Thursday, July 25th to select nominees for three newly-created New York County Civil Court vacancies. Upon a series of votes, the Executive Committee selected Harold Bahr, Elizabeth Shamas, and Crystal Villaseñor as the Democratic nominees for the November 5, 2024 General Election.

“As has been true and remains true to this day, the Manhattan Democratic Party proudly advances yet another slate of highly-qualified, diverse candidates to be our standard-bearers in November as Democrats run aggressive campaigns up and down the ballot,” said County Leader Keith L.T. Wright.

“I’d like to thank Governor Hochul, Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Assemblyman Landon Dais, and Senate and Assembly leadership for strengthening our county’s judiciary, as well as Assemblyman Alex Bores’ strong advocacy towards that same effort. Additionally, I commend our Judiciary Committee co-chairs, District Leaders Curtis Arluck and Rebecca Weintraub, and our entire Executive Committee who continuously show up to support this most deliberative and democratic process.”

“On behalf of the Manhattan Democratic Party, I congratulate our nominees and offer our full support as Democrats earn every vote for every seat this November!”