Crown Heights’ Pick Declared NYC Council Primary Winner

By COLlive reporter

Crystal Hudson, the candidate for Brooklyn’s City Council District 35 who was backed by the Crown Heights political action committee, has been declared the Democratic Primary winner.

Hudson, who held a slight lead on election night, held a nearly 2,100-vote lead over Hollingsworth by the final round of ranked-choice voting.

She held just under 54 percent of the vote, while Hollingsworth earned 46 percent, numbers show.

A former city staffer who has worked for City Council Member Laurie Cumbo and the Public Advocate, Hudson beat Michael Hollingsworth, a tenant organizer, who was in second place after other candidates were eliminated.

The Jewish community of Crown Heights actively supported Hudson, who thanked the Chasidic community for their support on election night, saying she is “proud to have the orthodox and Chasidic community on my team,” to applause and shouts of “Mazel Tov!” and “L’Chaim!”

Hudson released the following statement on her victory in the Democratic primary:

“Our lead has only grown since election night, and I’m so proud to announce our victory in this race. From NYCHA residents and religious leaders to labor unions and progressive movement builders, our campaign has built a strong, broad coalition over the past year and reached every corner of our incredibly diverse district. As a third-generation resident of this district, the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, caregiver for my mother, and the daughter of a nurse, I launched this campaign because I know all too well the challenges our community faces. I also know we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to not only ensure we recover from this crisis, but rebuild the right way — guided by the principles of equity, justice, and better opportunities for all of us.

“I am so grateful for the work of our hundreds of volunteers and the backing of our nearly 100 endorsers, including unions, community-based organizations, tenant leaders, and elected officials. We are now over 15,000 strong having received one of the highest vote totals of any Council candidate citywide with the most first- and second-choice votes across this district. In a time of great division and negativity, we ran a positive and unifying campaign rooted in love, justice, and respect. And that is exactly how we will lead. I want to sincerely thank the other candidates in this race, including Renee Collymore, Curtis Harris, Michael Hollingsworth, Regina Kinsey, Deirdre Levy, and Hector Robertson. Running for office is incredibly difficult and I know there is much more that unites than divides us. I look forward to working together to fight for solutions to the most pressing issues facing our community.

“Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, our win — and the wins of so many progressives across the city — is a mandate for our vision: universal housing for all, equitable schools, an end to racist policing, real investment in Black and brown communities, worker justice, dignity and wellness for our seniors, and a recovery that centers and uplifts the most vulnerable among us. That work has just begun.”

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