2020 Election Watch: New York and Kentucky Primaries
It’s that time again: Primary elections! This time we have ten heavy-hitters running for elected office in New York State and Lexington, Kentucky. The past couple of months have put a spotlight on the importance of state and local leaders — their commitment to our rights and our safety is paramount in these uncertain times. The RFS candidates running in Tuesday’s elections are working on police reform, funding for education, the rise in gentrification, and accountability across all levels of government. These young progressives are the people we need representing us and their efforts at the local level are the first steps in building long-term institutional change.
Get to know these ten candidates below and (if you have to go to the polls) make sure you vote, safely.
Primary Candidates
Kentucky
Christine Stanley
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, District 3
Christine Stanley is an attorney and community activist with experience on the front lines of healthcare reform, municipal law education, and the fight for human rights. She is running to represent District 3 in Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council. Christine has worked to combat discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations, preserve farmland, and she serves on numerous boards that work to enhance the livability of our community for all Lexingtonians.
Christine is an advocate for affordable housing, sustainable growth, public transportation, more bike and pedestrian accessibility, trans*-inclusive health benefits, banning conversion therapy and dismantling structural racism. Christine lives with her husband Justin and their three dogs, Starbuck, Apollo & Athena.
Colby Khoshreza
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council Council, District 9
Colby has spent the last 15 years in Lexington and has been involved with many community organizations, both as a volunteer and board member, including DanceBlue, CASA, Family Counseling Service, and United Way.
He is committed to making government more accessible, advocating for neighborhood concerns, and being responsive to his constituents.
New York
Cameron Alex Koffman
New York State Assembly, District 73
Cameron Alex Koffman is a Democrat running for New York State Assembly on the East Side of Manhattan. He’s running on a platform of full-time representation and is focused on bringing a new generation of ethical leadership to Albany.
Cameron is setting out on a history-making campaign, as he would be the youngest NYS Assemblyman since Teddy Roosevelt. Cameron grew up on the East Side of Manhattan and has been listening to community members his entire life. Now, after becoming an award-winning infrastructure reporter, he’s running for office because he understands that the economic and environmental challenges our city and state face demand urgent action — there is no time to waste. To that end, Cameron is running to refill vacant storefronts with bustling local businesses; to expand voting rights for students and recent graduates; to help New Yorkers lead the way to net-zero carbon emissions; and to provide all New Yorkers with a full-time voice in Albany.
Katherine P. Walsh
New York State Assembly, District 51
Born and raised in her district, Katherine is running for the New York State Assembly to fix the problems that have worsened over the past two decades there: economic injustice, lack of affordable housing, underfunded schools, corruption, and crumbling infrastructure. Katherine will pursue a progressive agenda for all New Yorkers, centered on workers’ rights, a true Green New Deal, universal healthcare, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, protecting immigrants, government transparency, and a taxation system where everyone pays their fair share.
Jabari Brisport
New York State Senate, District 25
Jabari is a queer, Black, public school teacher in Crown Heights and a third generation resident of Brooklyn (born in Bed Stuy, raised in Prospect Heights).
He’s running for office because he saw his community suffering from rapid gentrification, lack of investment in its public schools and other public services, over-policing, and the racist intersections that underlie all of these injustices. He’s a socialist and he believes that when we come together, we’re stronger than the sum of our parts.
He’s running for State Senate so that together, we can build a world where housing is a human right, education is guaranteed, and Black lives matter. A world where poverty is not a crime, and every person is treated with dignity and respect.
Jason Salmon
New York State Senate, District 25
Jason is a life-long resident of Fort Greene-Clinton Hill and an experienced community organizer and activist running for New York’s State Senate District 25.
Jason is running on a platform centered around ending mass incarceration, addressing the affordable housing crisis, and fighting for equity in our education system. Jason is running to demand police accountability and reform, fighting to end solitary confinement, and to take on legislation that will end the War on Drugs in the State of New York. Jason is a firm believer that we need more schools not jails, and will fight to make sure the next generation of leaders receive equitable education that emphasizes civic education and comprehensive American history, including the history of indigenous peoples and African Americans.
Jeremy Cooney
New York State Senate, District 56
Born in an Indian orphanage, Jeremy was adopted by a courageous single-mother and was raised and educated in the City of Rochester. He has devoted his career to serving the community that helped raise him — from the YMCA to all levels of government. He got his start working with the late U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and has gone on to work for two New York Governors and the Mayor of Rochester.
With a deep commitment to creating the Rochester of tomorrow, Jeremy is passionate about investing in quality public schools, affordable housing, universal health care, reducing our carbon footprint and helping families find pathways out of poverty.
Jon Rivera
New York State Assembly, District 149
Jon has dedicated his career to serving Western New York, working in both the private and public sectors to create a stronger, healthier community. From his time in local government, Jon has learned what it’s like to fight for resources to deliver for the public good. Jon is running for the 149th Assembly District to stand up for working people, responsibly developing our local infrastructure, and building on Western New York’s proud tradition as a welcoming and inclusive community. Jon will ensure the community is represented effectively on day one.
Judge Karen Best
Yonkers City Court Judge
Administrative Law Judge Karen Best is a former public defender and a current public servant. She started her legal career in law school representing criminal defendants in Nassau County District Court. After passing the bar exam, Judge Best joined the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County. For four years, she worked fearlessly for the rights of Yonkers residents in Yonkers City Court. Day in and day out, Judge Best advocated for her clients by challenging the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office to be fair and just. Her dedication and hard work led her to accomplish what many other attorneys could not do, which was successfully securing dismissals of felony cases before the grand jury proceedings.
Now, Judge Best is an Administrative Law Judge for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Additionally, she serves as the Vice President on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County. In keeping with the spirit of challenging the system and doing what is difficult, she is now running in the Democratic primary because she wants to serve as your next Yonkers City Court Judge.
Skyler Johnson
New York State Senate, District 1
Skyler is a 19 year old progressive running for the New York State Senate. Skyler, an activist, will bring serious reform to Albany. He is a supporter of the New York Health Act, which will establish single-payer healthcare in New York State. He has released comprehensive plans on a wide spectrum of issues to ensure New York’s government is built for the people. If he’s elected, he will be a fierce advocate for the residents of New York. Skyler is looking forward to building a state designed for everyone, from all social and financial backgrounds.
