Democrat Nikki Lucas — a 30-year resident of Starrett City and a staunch community advocate for residents of East New York, and the surrounding neighborhoods of Starrett City, Brownsville and Canarsie, among others – on Tuesday declared victory, by a massive landslide, in the Special Election for the 60th Assembly District seat in Brooklyn.
The 60th Assembly District includes the East New York, Brownsville and Canarsie sections of Brooklyn.
“Our community has spoken loud and clear, and I am so humbled to now be elected Democratic representative from East New York, Starrett City, Brownsville and Canarsie,” Lucas, a former female Democratic State Committee Member in the 60th Assembly District, and the founder of the People First Democratic Club, and the People First Education Fund, told Caribbean Life Tuesday night.
“Tonight is the result of what happens when we center real change, build coalitions, and demand a just future that includes truly affordable housing, quality public schools and accessible health care for all,” she added.
“I thank everyone who believed in me, especially my family, clergy, NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) and tenant leaders, laborers and working-class New Yorkers, my political club and staff,” Lucas continued. “It is my honor to continue to serve the people of this district, here and in Albany.”
With 98.82 percent of the scanner reporting, the city’s Board of Elections reported on Tuesday that Lucas won by a landslide in the unofficial results.
Lucas obtained 2,074 votes, or 78.32 percent, to her closest challenger, Keron Alleyne, of the Working Families Party, who only received 519 votes, or 19.60 percent.
Marvin J. King, who ran on both the Republican and Conservative parties’ line, received 38 votes as a Republican, or 1.44 percent, and 15 votes as a Conservative, or 0.57 percent.
There were two write-in votes, or 0.,08 percent.
On Friday, Mayor Eric Adams announced his enthusiastic endorsement of Lucas.
“Nikki Lucas is a strong, effective leader we can count on at this crucial moment,” he said. “She has shown up for the residents of East New York and Brownsville — communities close to both our hearts — time after time, and I know how hard she’ll work to get the job done.”
Lucas said she was “honored and humbled” to receive Adams’ endorsement.
“We both care deeply about reducing gun violence and homelessness, increasing affordable housing, making education accessible for all and ending the digital divide, closing the homeownership gap and expanding quality health care,” she said.
Lucas had also received strong endorsements from Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair, Haitian American Rodneyse Bichotte Hermely; Congressman Hakeem Jeffries; Guyanese-born Sen. Roxanne Persaud, who represents the 19th Senate District in Brooklyn; and local unions 1199SEIU, District Council of Carpenters, HTC and DC 9.
Lucas became the Democratic nominee for the 60th Assembly District, when she secured victory, by an overwhelming margin of votes, in a January meeting of the 60th Assembly District County Committee.
The community activist has advocated for, among other issues, addressing “the inhumane conditions prevalent across New York City Housing Authority buildings,” access to healthcare, affordable housing and home ownership, senior housing that provides social services and increased funding for Community Based Organizations, and economic development initiatives that were “designed to create business opportunities and create jobs for local residents.”
