Group Holds Nyack Rally To Oppose Carlucci's Bid For Congress

NYACK, NY — Local grassroots leaders, pro-choice activists, and Democratic Committee members have created a new coalition to oppose State Assemblyman David Carlucci's bid for the 17th NY Congressional seat from which longtime Rep. Nita Lowey is retiring. They held a recent rally in Nyack.

The group, called No IDC in DC, opposes Carlucci because of his membership in a breakaway group of Democrats who caucused with Republicans in Albany before shutting down in 2018.

The newly formed coalition includes 16 groups with a reach of well over 100,000 members, its founders said. Most are in Westchester and Rockland counties.

“We formed because we are concerned that a state senator who happily betrayed his party and voters for over seven years as he caucused with Republicans in the state senate, could now represent CD17 in Congress.,” said Paul Diamond, a founding member of No IDC in DC. “With so many qualified Democrats running for Ms. Lowey’s seat, we do not trust that Mr. Carlucci will not once again betray his voters should the next shiny object and opportunity appear."

The eight-member Independent Democratic Conference allied itself with Senate Republicans from 2011-18. That gave the GOP control of the chamber and to some extent endowed its members with power and influence. In 2018 its leadership patched up differences with the Democratic leaders in the state Senate and dissolved.

No IDC in DC, which represents a wide spectrum of the Democratic Party and its voters, is not endorsing any specific candidate in this race, its leaders said. The coalition is encouraging voters to learn more about each of the candidates, and provides links on its website to help educate voters about all other NY CD 17 candidates.

Since Lowey announced her plans to retire, almost 20 candidates have announced they would run for her seat.