Local Indivisible Groups Take Issue With Nixon Endorsement

News that the national organization Indivisible435 has endorsed Cynthia Nixon in the Democratic primary over incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo has prompted three local chapters to issue their own statement.

Indivisible435 said Nixon “has been fighting for better schools and more equitable education funding all across the state, including as a spokesperson and organizer for the Alliance for Quality Education.”

The national organization said Nixon has been traveling the state meeting with legislators and has spoken out in Albany on numerous occasions to demand that public schools get the resources they need.

Indivisible Westchester, NYCD-16 Indivisible and Indivisible New Rochelle put out a statement July 30 that said as a matter of policy they have adopted a no-endorsement rule for the primaries.

Nixon is on the ballot in September on the Democratic line. No matter the primary outcome, Nixon will appear on the general election ballot in November on the Working Families Party line.

SEE ALSO: Andrew Cuomo Vs. Cynthia Nixon: Who Will Win The Primary: POLL

The exception, the three local groups said, was for those running against former members of the state Senate Independent Democratic Conference, who caucus with the Republicans.

“We have found endorsements in primaries to be divisive, creating unnecessary strife amongst our diverse and thoughtful membership,” the groups said.

“The strength of the Indivisible movement lies in the local groups and a bottom-up approach of engaged and informed citizens mobilizing their friends and neighbors to vote,” the statement said.

The groups said that Cuomo and Nixon bring diversity in thought and experience and are both committed to democratic, American values.

“Our role in the gubernatorial primaries, as in all other Democratic primaries, is to provide forums and encourage Democratic candidates to openly connect with progressive voters so that the citizens can make an informed decision,” they said.

“An endorsement from national in this race for Cynthia Nixon does not change our policy or position as unaffiliated facilitators who have not endorsed either candidate,” the organizations said. “Yet, we remain poised to support the winner of this race and will put all our effort into insuring that the governorship of NY State remains in Democratic hands in November.”

The groups emphasized that it was crucial for governorship to remain Democratic because “should federal investigations into the Trump administration be impeded, New York will be the last line of defense.”

One other local Indivisible group — IndivRivertowns — issued a statement via Twitter that it is remaining neutral in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

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