The Brooklyn Can’t Wait (BCW) campaign today announces that its coalition of 22 incoming District Leaders have voted to nominate and elect District Leader Julio Peña III as Chair of the Executive Committee (Party Chair) this coming September. This coalition constitutes a majority of the Kings County Democratic Party Executive Committee, and together they look forward to electing Mr. Peña as the party’s new Chair and beginning the hard work of building a new Brooklyn Democratic Party.  

Brooklyn Can’t Wait was founded in 2022 by a coalition of Democratic clubs and organizations frustrated by the party’s corruption and inaction. These failures have cost Democrats in Brooklyn – and this coalition recognized the need for new leadership to build a party that does the work: turning out voters, mobilizing to achieve policy wins, and helping our communities. To this end, the coalition supported District Leader candidates in the last three primary elections to bring change to the Party. 

Candidates endorsed by Brooklyn Can’t Wait won 14 seats in both 2022 and 2024. In the 2026 June primary, BCW candidates expanded these gains to win an unprecedented 22 seats. Eight candidates won competitive races, joining 14 candidates in the coalition who ran uncontested.

Now that this coalition controls a majority of the party’s Executive Committee, with this announcement Brooklyn Can’t Wait begins the process of transitioning the party to new leadership and a new vision of its future.

All District Leaders in the coalition signed on to the BCW pledge, a vision for reforming the Brooklyn Democratic Party. This pledge includes commitments to end the failed structure of “bossism” in the Party, to bring transparency and oversight to its finances and its political actions, and to build its capacity by reviving the long-dormant committee structure and empowering both District Leaders and the general membership of the County Committee to take on leadership roles. All previous Chairs have effectively selected and anointed their successors, who subsequently ran the party as they saw fit. No more.

The Brooklyn Can’t Wait campaign has always been a big tent, and the coalition looks forward to bringing this inclusive vision to the party itself. The new majority of District Leaders includes longstanding reform champions from Central Brooklyn, left-wing organizers from North Brooklyn, and candidates in southern Brooklyn on the front lines of the fight against Republicans in swing districts. Democratic voters have chosen Brooklyn Can’t Wait candidates in elections across the borough because the need for a strong and effective party that acts with integrity goes beyond any factional disputes. They recognized that corruption is not inevitable in Brooklyn, and they voted for a vision that all wings of this party can come together to build a new Brooklyn Democratic Party.

Until now, the party has failed to leverage its resources, its money, or its organizing capacity in contested races against Republicans. Where did that money and power go instead? This spring, thousands of party dollars were spent in a failed attempt to knock obviously-qualified Democratic candidates off the ballot. With a Democratic Party that has not kept its eye on the ball, Republicans seized the opportunity. For several cycles now, the Republican Party has been gaining seats in Brooklyn. This changes on day one. The new Brooklyn Democratic Party will invest in organizing to beat Republicans in Brooklyn and beyond, and welcome volunteers who want to join the fight. With Mr. Peña as Chair, the new Brooklyn Democratic Party will be a big tent, welcoming all Democrats who are ready to work together to beat Republicans and deliver for our communities.

About Julio Peña III (he/him)

Having served as District Leader for Assembly District 51 (Sunset Park, Red Hook) since 2020, Mr. Peña has been a leader of the Executive Committee reform caucus. He’s kept the coalition informed when party leadership tried to shut them out of important decisions, and he’s been a consistent advocate for greater transparency and accountability in areas like judicial nominations and electoral organizing. 

A lifelong resident of Sunset Park, Mr. Peña just wrapped up his final term as Chair of Brooklyn Community Board 7 where for eight years he worked tirelessly to improve the lives of local residents, promoted community engagement, and led the board through difficult conversations. In his professional life, he works as Director of a high school after school program that prepares students with lifeskills, work experience, and the tools to be successful after high school. Previously, he spent 16 years at Good Shepherd Services. Mr. Peña’s commitment to public service began with his education, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Puerto Rican & Latino Studies, followed by a Master's degree in Public Administration. 

In a recent demonstration of leadership, at this year’s New York State Democratic Convention, Mr. Peña coauthored and introduced what City & State called "the most comprehensive stance from the state party on immigration enforcement," a unanimously passed resolution condemning ICE, calling for its restructuring, and supporting the New York for All Act. Mr. Peña will also be making history as both the first Latine and the first queer Brooklyn Party Chair.

These Elected Officials and Organizations Are Supporting Julio Peña III for Party Chair

District Leaders in the Brooklyn Can’t Wait coalition:

Nakisha Evans, Akel Williams, Diana González, Emmitt Sklar, Angela Kravtchenko, Chris McCreight, Jenna Bimbi, Luke Ohlson, Jacqui Painter, Julio Peña III, Ilyssa Meyer, Aaron Ouyang, Maritza Davila, Felix Ceballos, Sandy Nurse, Alan Gamboa, Carmella Charrington, Omar Hardy, Shaquana Boykin, Akwasi Agyeman, Samia Aljahmi, and Mark Hanna

Elected officials (list in formation):

Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez
Congressman-elect Brad Lander
Congresswoman-elect Claire Valdez

Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso

State Senators Jabari Brisport, Andrew Gounardes, Julia Salazar

Assembly Members Robert Carroll, Brian Cunningham, Maritza Davila, Emily Gallagher, Eon Huntley (incoming), Jo Anne Simon, Christian Celeste Tate (incoming)

Council Members Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Sandy Nurse, Lincoln Restler, Kayla Santosuosso

New Kings Democrats, Brooklyn Young Democrats, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, Independent Neighborhood Democrats, Indivisible Brooklyn