In a stunning upset that underscores the growing influence of the democratic socialist movement, Maurice 'Mo' Brown has defeated 28-year incumbent Bill Magnarelli in the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 129. The victory, confirmed after the counting of mail-in ballots, saw Brown win by approximately 100 votes. Brown's campaign, part of the 'Affordability Slate' put forward by the Syracuse chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), also saw Jo Bennett win a primary for Onondaga County Legislator, while Tammy Honeywell lost her race but remains energized.
The significance of this victory extends beyond a single election. Magnarelli had held office since 1999, often running unopposed, and was backed by the political establishment, including an endorsement from New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Brown's campaign faced significant opposition from corporate interests, with DoorDash spending nearly $155,000 on ads in the final three weeks of the primary. Despite this, Brown's grassroots movement prevailed, highlighting a national trend of democratic socialists defeating establishment candidates.
'The community has spoken, and the message is clear: Housing, healthcare, and education are human rights and the role of government is to protect those rights,' said Brown. 'Our victory today is a collective one. It is a victory against big money and establishment politics.' Brown's platform centered on affordability, protecting immigrants from ICE, and banning data centers. He also received an endorsement from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a key figure in the democratic socialist movement.
Jo Bennett, who won her primary for Onondaga County Legislator District 15, remarked, 'I've never seen a movement like this in Central New York. This is historic, and it's a clear message about the needs of our communities.' Bennett, a public school teacher and union organizer, defeated an opponent who had spent 24 years in the legislature. Tammy Honeywell, despite her loss, emphasized the momentum of the movement: 'Our movement is growing and we are just getting started. We launched these campaigns to bring Democratic Socialism to Syracuse, and we've done that!'
All three candidates were endorsed early by the Syracuse DSA, the New York Working Families Party, and Citizen Action of NY. The general election is set for November 23rd, with Brown and Bennett facing Republican opponents in heavily Democratic districts. Brown expressed readiness to serve: 'I will be so honored to represent our communities in Albany. I am ready to fight together to deliver on these needs and provide for all our people.'
