In the Democratic primary election of the 65th district of the New York State Assembly on the evening of the 23rd, the socialist Democratic candidate Illapa Sairitupac, endorsed by Mayor Mamdani, took the lead with over 36% of the votes among five other competitors. Chinese-American candidate Jacky Wong received more than 15% of the votes, ranking fourth. Community political leaders praised that as a first-time candidate, achieving such results in the competition for state assembly is commendable.
The position of State Assembly member of the 65th district was contested by 6 candidates, making the competition intense. As of 9:50 pm on the 23rd, Illapa received 36.12% of the votes; Jasmin Sanchez 17.75%; Wei-Li Tjong 15.57%; Jacky Wong 15.31%; Mariama James 10.47%; Lilah Mejia 4.58%.
Illapa is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and has been endorsed by Mamdani and Senator Sanders. He advocates for strong tenant protection policies, supports the “just cause eviction” bill to curb unreasonable rent hikes; he backs the New York Health Act to promote a single-payer healthcare system, ensuring equal medical coverage for all residents; he calls for raising the minimum wage, improving labor conditions, and emphasizes protecting the rights of grassroots workers and immigrants.
Community leader Yu Jinshan expressed surprise at Illapa’s victory, stating, “I didn’t expect him to soar so high,” attributing it to the influence of the mayor, remarking that Mamdani’s influence seems to still hold sway. However, he was deeply touched by Jacky Wong’s performance.
“We may have lost this time, but Jacky Wong’s team performed exceptionally well,” Yu Jinshan said. “We hope he will continue to strive for excellence, as there are many positions next year. Whether it’s his policy or personal efforts, he possesses the qualities of a great political figure.”
Jacky Wong expressed gratitude to all his supporters. “Many people have backed us, and our volunteers are working very hard,” he said. “But elections are about strategy, and now someone has won this election using a new approach, which is worth studying.”
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