Endorsements

VID is excited to host a series of candidate forums and endorsement meetings in preparation for the 2025 New York City elections. Several forums will be co-hosted by a coalition of downtown Democratic clubs.

VID endorses candidates running in the 66th Assembly District and ballot proposals in all national, state, and local elections. In accordance with our Constitution, a candidate or ballot proposal must receive a majority vote in order to receive a VID endorsement. Candidates participate in a General Meeting forum and have an opportunity to speak to the membership for a brief time and participate in a Q & A session. Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) applies to all VID endorsements. For voting and election information in NYC click here.

2026 Candidate Forums

For a schedule for 2026 candidate forums and endorsement meetings, click here. Check here for updates as well.

VID 2026 Candidate Forum & Endorsement Meeting Schedule for Midterms & State Races
rev. 12/23/25

DECEMBER 11, 2025 - VID monthly membership meeting

Candidate Forum & Endorsement Vote:

NY State Senate District 27
- Brian Kavanagh (incumbent) – endorsed

Following the forum, members in good standing discussed and voted to endorse Brian Kavanagh.

*Election Part 1 VID Club Elections:

President: Sara Kimbell – elected
Vice Presidents – elected
- Liz Cohen, Remy Kothe, Mindy Rosier

Constitutional Amendment Vote #1:

Constitutional Waiver & Membership Coordinator – both passed round 1

*VID will host the second part of club elections on Jan. 8th. for Treasurer, Recording Secretary (1), Corresponding Secretaries (2), Members-at-Large (15). More info. here.

JANUARY 8, 2026 - VID monthly membership meeting. Meeting details here

Read candidate surveys here.

Candidate Forum & Endorsement Vote:

NY State Senate District 47 (Selection & primary vote: Brad Holyman-Sigal elected to another position)
- Candidates
  - Erik Bottcher
NYS Assembly-66 AD (Open Seat- Deborah Glick retiring)
- Candidates
  - Corinne Arnold
  - Ryder Kessler
  - Jeannine Kiely
  - David Siffert
  - Ben Yee

Following the forum, members in good standing will discuss and vote to endorse a candidate.

VID Election: Part 2 VID Club Elections:

Corresponding Secretaries (2), Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Members-at-Large (15)

Constitutional Amendment Vote #2:

Constitutional Waiver & Membership Coordinator

JANUARY 21, 2026 – Special meeting. Meeting details here. VID will hold an endorsement meeting for these candidates at the special meeting on Jan. 22. Details here.
Time: 7pm
Location: CUNY Grad Center
RSVP HERE: Space is limited!
Zoom:A zoom link will be provided (TBD)

VID has very few election districts (EDs) in NY-12 and therefore will be joining fellow Democratic clubs* at their forum.

Candidate Forum:

S. Congress NY-12
- Candidates
  - - Alex Bores
- Participating clubs: Eleanore Roosevelt Independent Democrats, Four Freedoms, Lexington Democratic Club, Manhattan Young Democrats, Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club, Village Independent Democrats

JANUARY 22, 2026 - VID Special Meeting. Meeting details here

Candidate Forum & Endorsement Vote:

U.S. Congress NY 10
- Candidates:
  - Dan Goldman (incumbent)
  - Evan Hutchison
  - Brad Lander
  - Savail Majid
U.S. Congress NY 12 Endorsement Vote ONLY (candidate forum previously held. This is an open seat previously held by Rep. Jerry Nadler who is retiring)
- Candidates
  - - Alex Bores

Following the forum, members in good standing will discuss and vote to endorse candidates.

Participating clubs: Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, (CRDC), Coalition for a District Alternative (CoDA), Downtown Independent Democrats (DID), VID

JANUARY 29, 2026 – Subject to change. Special Meeting: United Coalition of Downtown Democratic Clubs Candidate Forum -Meeting details here

Candidate Forum – VID will hold endorsement meetings for these races during the February 12^th meeting

Governor
- Candidates
  - Kathy Hochul (incumbent)
  - Antonio Delgado
Lt. Governor
- Candidates
NY State Attorney General
- Candidates
  - Letitia James (incumbent)
NY State Comptroller
- Candidates
  - Adem T. Bunkeddeko
  - Thomas DiNapoli (incumbent)
  - Raj Goyle
  - Drew Warshaw

Participating clubs: Chelsea Reform Democratic Club (CRDC), Coalition for a District Alternative (Coda), College Democrats of NY, Downtown Independent Democrats (DID), Grand Street Dems, HK Dems, Three Bridges, United Democratic Organization (UDO), Village Independent Democrats (VID)

FEBRUARY 12, 2026, VID monthly membership meeting. A candidate forum was previously held. Meeting details here

Candidate Forum and Endorsement Vote:

Civil Court – countywide
- Candidates
NY Surrogate Court
- Candidates
State Committee Members (2)
- Candidates:
  - Sommer Omar
  - Ben Yee
VID Judicial Delegates & Alternates

Endorsement Vote for: (candidate forum held 1/29)

Governor
- Candidates
  - Kathy Hochul (incumbent)
  - Antonio Delgado
Lt. Governor
- Candidates
NY State Attorney General
- Candidates
  - Letitia James (incumbent)
NY State Comptroller
- Candidates
  - Adem T. Bunkeddeko
  - Thomas DiNapoli (incumbent)
  - Raj Goyle
  - Drew Warshaw

Following the forum, members in good standing will discuss and vote to endorse candidates.

2025 VID EDORSED CANDIDATES

Candidates are requested to complete a questionnaire from club members.

Candidate questionnaire responses:

Candidate Forum Videos:

2025 Endorsement Results

List in formation and will be updated with Judicial endorsements before the November General Election

We're proud to announce that 7 out of 8 endorsed candidates won in their races!

NYC Mayor
Per VID rules, a 2nd endorsement vote was held after the primary to endorse for Mayor since our endorsed candidate, Brad Lander, did not win in that race:

NYC Mayor
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander

Public Advocate
Jumaane Williams

NYC Comptroller
Mark Levine

Manhattan District Attorney
District Attorney Alvin Bragg

Manhattan Borough President
Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal

NYC Council District 1
Councilmember Christopher Marte

NYC Council District 2
Assemblymember Harvey Epstein

NYC Council District 3
Councilmember Erik Bottcher

District Leader, 66th AD, Part A
Mar Fitzgerald

District Leader, 66th AD, Part A
Arthur Schwartz

VID ENDORSED JUDICIAL CANDIDATES

NYS Supreme Court: Suzanne Adams, Jim Clynes, Deborah Kaplan, Judy Kim

NY Civil Court: Eric Wursthorn

VID Endorsed Judicial Delegates & Alternates:

Deborah Glick
Kathryn Freed
David Siffert
Eliza Orlins
Anthony S. Hoffmann
Allen N. Roskoff
Susan Barrie
Sheila R. Rule
Patricia Laraia
Morton Minsley
Daniel Palmisano
Richard Corman
Linda Jacobson
Dennis Gault
Melissa Carty

Alternate Delegates

Jeannine Kiely
Alfred Fuente
Timothy Wong
Karla Moskowitz
Chris J. Marchitello
Joshua Goodman
Katherine Slawinski
Arthur Z. Schwartz
Edward E. Keenan
Judith Jacobson
Michael Lagnado
Jonathan Geballe
Megan Pascarella
Mindy Rosier
Palak Kaushal