New York Democrats Jessica Ramos and John Liu

One of the sneakiest sagas in state politics has been unfolding for years in the New York state Senate, where turncoat “Democrats” broke with their party in 2012 to hand power to Senate Republicans, giving the minority GOP control of the chamber. This cabal called itself the Independent Democratic Conference, or the IDC, but don’t let the “Democratic” in the name fool you.

These deceivers turned their back on their party and on progressive values, and for years the Republican-IDC alliance blocked legislation to establish a state DREAM Act, measures to protect access to abortion and no-copay birth control, implement early voting and automatic voter registration, and a litany of other bills broadly supported by Democrats that have no trouble passing the Democratic-majority state Assembly. New York could be setting the progressive example for other states to follow. Instead, it's at the back of the pack.

Anger over this shabby state of affairs inspired a slate of serious progressive primary challengers to the IDC, generating enough fear to push the IDC back into the Democratic fold. But these turncoats have years of betrayal, obstruction, and bad policy to answer for, and they could easily go back to their old ways after the primaries. They’re even still fundraising for their own separate caucus. Fortunately, the candidates who inspired such fear in these lawmakers aren’t backing down.

In support of putting real Democrats in charge of the New York state Senate, Daily Kos is proud to endorse John Liu and Jessica Ramos, two progressives running in state Senate districts 11 and 13, respectively, both located in New York City.

Liu is taking on former IDCer Tony Avella in this Queens district. A college professor and former New York City comptroller, Liu immigrated from Taiwan as a child. He became the first Asian-American candidate to be elected to a citywide office in 2009, and he has fought as a true progressive since his time in the city council for issues like immigrants’ rights and criminal justice reform. He believes deeply in championing causes that provide everyone with a sense of well-being and safety—especially underrepresented populations.

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