Alessandra Biaggi and Zellnor Myrie

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 caucus with Senate Republicans, giving that minority party effective majority control of the chamber. This cabal calls itself the Independent Democratic Conference, or the IDC, but don’t let the “Democratic” in the name fool you. These folks have turned their back on their party and on progressive values, and for years the Republican-IDC alliance has blocked legislation to establish a state DREAM Act, measures to protect access to abortion and no-copay birth control, implementation of early voting and automatic voter registration, and other bills broadly supported by Democrats and have no trouble passing the Democratic-majority state Assembly.

But real progressives are stepping up to take on these IDC members in New York’s September primaries, and Daily Kos is proud to endorse Alessandra Biaggi and Zellnor Myrie, two progressives running in state Senate districts 34 and 20, respectively.

Biaggi is taking on Sen. Jeff Klein, the ringleader of the IDC circus that strips Democrats of their numeric majority in the chamber and gives Republicans control. She wants to ensure that New York lives up to its full potential and returns to its rightful place as a national leader of progressive values and strong democracy. Her progressive priorities include expanding voting rights, campaign finance reform, promoting reproductive justice, criminal justice reform and immigrants rights.

Myrie is running against IDC member Jesse Hamilton. A community activist in this central Brooklyn district, Myrie has pledged to refuse any and all donations from real estate special interests, which are well-known funders of his opponent and the IDC generally. His priorities include a progressive affordable housing agenda as well as the passage of the Reproductive Health Act, The DREAM Act, New York Health Act and other legislation that has been blocked by the IDC.

These Democrats have already demonstrated early grassroots fundraising strength against their well-financed IDC opponents, but the IDC’s corporate-funded war chest is massive and presents a real challenge for real progressives this fall.

As facially ridiculous as it is that we have to try to turn a blue state blue, it’s long past time for “Trump’s N.Y. Dems” to go. And these Democrats can accomplish this.

You can start giving IDC members the boot today—donate $3 to help elect real Democrats in New York!