Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Brooklyn Democrats Face Leadership Fight Over Proposed Rule Changes
Brooklyn’s Democratic Party may change its rules.
Members are expected to vote on the changes Tuesday night.
Mamdani says the changes do not respect what voters wanted.
A reform group supports Julio Peña to become the next party chair.
Peña has been a district leader from Sunset Park for a long time.
The proposed changes could add new voting members.
Those members might vote in the fall leadership election.
This could affect the race before newly elected reform leaders begin their jobs.
Bichotte Hermelyn has proposed changes to Brooklyn Democratic Party rules.
The changes are scheduled for a vote Tuesday night.
Mamdani says the proposals defy the will of voters.
The reform faction supports Julio Peña, a longtime Sunset Park district leader, for party chair.
If approved, newly added voting members could participate in the fall leadership election before newly elected reform district leaders take office.
- Who
- The Brooklyn Democratic Party, Mamdani, Bichotte Hermelyn, Julio Peña, and the party’s reform faction.
- What
- Proposed party rule changes could add voting members before the fall leadership election for party chair.
- When
- The changes are scheduled for a vote Tuesday night; the leadership election is planned for the fall.
- Where
- Brooklyn, including Sunset Park, where Julio Peña is a longtime district leader.
- Why
- The changes could reshape the leadership election before newly elected reform district leaders take their seats.
Supporters of the proposed changes
Critics of the proposed changes
Effect on the leadership race
Supporters of the proposed changes
The proposed changes would allow newly added voting members to participate in the fall party-chair election.
Critics of the proposed changes
Mamdani says the changes defy the will of voters and could influence the race before newly elected reform district leaders take their seats.
Reform faction’s preferred candidate
Supporters of the proposed changes
The reform faction has already backed Julio Peña, and the rule changes could affect the contest involving its preferred candidate.
Critics of the proposed changes
The timing of the changes is criticized because newly elected reform district leaders would not yet have the chance to take their own seats.
- Proposed by
- Bichotte Hermelyn
- Scheduled vote
- Tuesday night
- Election affected
- Fall election for the next party chair
- Reform candidate
- Julio Peña
- Peña’s background
- Longtime district leader from Sunset Park
- Potential impact
- Newly added voting members could participate before newly elected reform district leaders take office