Overview
- Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn circulated amendments that would grow the Brooklyn Democratic Party’s executive committee from 42 district leaders to more than 68 members and give additional county officers and assembly-district representatives voting rights.
- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ office said he had not discussed the rules change with Bichotte Hermelyn and does not support the proposal, a public disavowal that undercuts the chair’s claim of broader backing.
- A coalition of 22 reform-aligned district leaders who won June primaries had pledged to back Julio Peña III, but those winners are not due to be seated until the fall, leaving the current chair with a present majority that could act on the rules before the new leaders take office.
- One flagged amendment would let former party chairs keep voting rights for life, a change that critics say could restore voting power to controversial past leaders such as Clarence Norman and recalls past bossism tactics used by figures like Vito Lopez.
- Reform groups and elected officials including Attorney General Letitia James and Public Advocate Jumanne Williams called the plan a power grab, and party bylaws plus the timing of the proposal have led reformers to consider procedural objections and possible legal challenges.