The 10th Congressional District encompasses neighborhoods from Brooklyn Heights and Dumbo to Park Slope and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, and Manhattan roughly below 14th Street. It is a new district that is the result of redistricting, so there is no incumbent.
New Kings Democrats, with partner clubs Lambda Independent Democrats, South Central Brooklyn United for Progress, Brooklyn Young Democrats, and Equality New York, hosted a forum for candidates in the NY-10 district in July 2022. All Democrats known to be running in the race were invited to participate, with the exception of Maud Maron, who uses her platform on social media to instigate a moral panic around gender identity, intentionally citing falsehoods and scientific inaccuracies to justify bigotry against the transgender community. Read the full explanation here.
Listed alphabetically, the candidates that participated were: Bill de Blasio (no longer running), Daniel Goldman, Quanda Francis, Mondaire Jones, Jimmy Li, Yuh-Line Niou, Carlina Rivera, Brian Robinson, and Jo Anne Simon.
View the NY-10-specific August Voter Guide as a PDF here.
MONDAIRE JONES
About the candidate: Congress Member Mondaire Jones was elected in 2020 to represent the 17th District; he was redistricted into NY-10 and just recently moved to Brooklyn, ostensibly to avoid a Member-on-Member race in another district. Congress Member Jones is Black and gay, and argues he is the only candidate in the crowded race with a progressive record. However, when pressed at the Brooklyn Political Clubs’ NY-10 forum, Jones was unfamiliar with key progressive legislation.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: Congress Member Jones has a long list of platform priorities. He has led in the fight to pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which would guarantee automatic voter registration and enact campaign financing reform if passed.
Where you can learn more: mondaireforcongress.com
Key endorsements:
- Human Rights Campaign
- Progressive Caucus
- U.S. Senator Cory Booker
- Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi
Claims to refuse donations from:
JO ANNE SIMON
About the candidate: Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon has represented Assembly District 52, which is within NY-10, since 2015. In addition to her role in the State Assembly, she is a disability civil rights attorney.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy:Jo Anne Simon is actively engaged in working to reform the Brooklyn Democratic Party and has been a leader in doing so, but on policy issues is not the most progressive candidate in this race. Unlike other candidates in the race, however, Assembly Member Simon has lived in and represented the district for a long time and knows it well. She is deeply focused on disability rights issues, women’s issues, and more.
Where you can learn more: joannesimonforcongress.com
Key endorsements:
- Lambda Independent Democrats
- Several NYCHA Tenant Association presidents, including Karen Blondel, Valerie Bell, and Joe Anne Brown
- Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats
- Downtown Independent Democrats
- Independent Neighborhood Democrats (AM Simon’s club)
Claims to refuse donations from:
PETER GLEASON
About the candidate: Peter Gleason is an attorney. He is a former member of the Coast Guard, NYPD, and FDNY.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: Let us know if you find anything out.
Where you can learn more: twitter.com/petergleasonesq (but there’s nothing about his campaign)
Key endorsements: Unknown
Claims to refuse donations from:
YAN XIONG
About the candidate: Yan Xiong is a community activist who protested in Tiananmen Square in 1989 as a student. He is a pastor and veteran.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: His primary issues are inclusive public safety / racial justice, education, and affordable housing. He argues that a “ten-year investment in rental assistance would effectively end homelessness for families and individuals.”
Where you can learn more: www.yanxiongforcongress2022.com
Key endorsements: Unknown
Claims to refuse donations from:
DAN GOLDMAN
About the candidate: Dan Goldman was the lead Democratic counsel in Donald Trump’s first impeachment. If elected, he would be one of the richest members of Congress, as he is an heir to the Levi Strauss & Co. fortune.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: When pressed at the Brooklyn Political Clubs’ NY-10 forum for details on how he has been active or engaged with any groups in the district, Goldman could not provide specifics. While his policy issues or record are far from compelling, he has raised a significant amount of money, positioning him as a frontrunner in today’s problematic political system. Goldman recently said in an interview that he wouldn’t object to a state law that bans abortions after a fetus is considered viable, as long as there is no risk to the mother and the pregnancy wasn’t a result of rape or incest. He rightfully received swift criticism from several opponents and residents of the district, and later claimed to have misspoke.
Where you can learn more: www.dangoldmanforny.com
Key endorsements:
- Village Independent Democrats
- The Steady State
- Assembly Member Robert Carroll
Claims to refuse donations from:
JIMMY LI
About the candidate: Jimmy Li is a community organizer. He co-founded the New York City Asian-American Democratic Club and Asian American Community Empowerment (AACE), a nonprofit coalition of Asian American organizations that consists of more than 60 member organizations nationwide.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: Jimmy is focused on public safety, advancing racial equity, and supporting small businesses.
Where you can learn more: Jimmylifornewyork.com
Key endorsements: Unknown
Claims to refuse donations from:
MAUD MARON
About the candidate: Maud Maron is an attorney.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: Maud’s own twitter bio calls her a “champion of unmasked kids” and includes the hashtag #IStandWithJKRowling – reminding constituents of her bigoted viewpoints toward transgender women.
We’ll also note that there is a change.org petition to get Maud to resign from Community Education Council 2 following her alleged fight against more diverse and inclusive schools.
Where you can learn more:
- Maudmaron.com
- lidbk.com/news/ny10-forum
Key endorsements: Unknown
Claims to refuse donations from:
ELIZABETH HOLTZMAN
About the candidate: Liz Holtzman was New York City Comptroller from 1990-1993, Brooklyn District Attorney from 1982-1989, and Member of Congress from 1973-1981. She successfully led on progressive causes in her political career.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: Ms. Holtzman highlights as the primary issue on her website “Combating the national wave of assault on choice and women’s rights.” She is also focused on taking on gun manufacturers.
Where you can learn more: lizholtzman.com
Key endorsements: Unknown
Claims to refuse donations from:
YUH-LINE NIOU
About the candidate: Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou currently represents Lower Manhattan in the State Assembly, having been in office since 2017.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: Assembly Member Niou is proudly progressive and a champion for low-income, immigrant, and working families. She has drawn support from grassroots organizers across the district. AM Niou is the first Asian-American to represent Chinatown in the State Legislature.
Where you can learn more: www.nioufornewyork.com
Key endorsements:
- Working Families Party
- Sunrise Movement
- Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
- State Senator Julia Salazar
- Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes
- The Jewish Vote
- Indivisible Nation Brooklyn
- Muslim Democratic Club of New York
- CUFFH
Claims to refuse donations from:
CARLINA RIVERA
About the candidate: Council Member Carlina Rivera represents Council District 2 in Lower Manhattan, which includes the East Village, Gramercy Park, and Murray Hill. She has served in the role since 2018. Council Member Rivera is a lifelong New Yorker and longtime resident of the Council district she represents, which is largely within the NY-10 district. As a Council Member, she helped secure $250,000 for the New York Abortion Access Fund, introduced and passed legislation to protect cyclists, and has called for more aid for funding and programs around reproductive healthcare.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: Council Member Rivera has one of the most comprehensive platforms of any candidates, and is particularly focused on abortion and reproductive justice, climate and environmental justice, and housing and affordability.
Where you can learn more: www.carlinarivera.nyc
Key endorsements:
- 11199SEIU-UHWE
- 504 Democratic Club
- Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
- Stonewall Democrats of NYC
- Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso
- Congress Member Nydia Velazquez
- Council Member Lincoln Restler
- Council Member Alexa Aviles
- Council Member Jen Gutierrez
- Council Member Sandy Nurse
Claims to refuse donations from:
QUANDA FRANCIS
About the candidate: Quanda Francis is a community leader and former candidate for Comptroller and Mayor. She is a recently elected member of the Democratic Party County Committee. Quanda was born and raised in New York. She is affiliated with the PhD Project, the American Accounting Association, the National Museum of African American History & Culture, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: Ms. Francis has unique and innovative ideas to increase Brooklynites’ accessibility to affordable housing in the district.
Where you can learn more: Quandafrancis.com
Key endorsements: Unknown
Claims to refuse donations from:
BRIAN ROBINSON
About the candidate: Brian Robinson founded a consumer advocacy company. He lives in Lower Manhattan with his family.
What stands out about their platform or candidacy: Brian’s platform is arguably one of the most conservative candidates among Democrats in the race. On his website, he argues: “Murder is up over 50% in this city since 2019. These issues are exclusive to American cities that adopted defund measures.”
Where you can learn more: www.votebriannyc.com
Key endorsements:
- New Yorkers for Safer Streets
Claims to refuse donations from: