NYC Primary Election 2020: James Vies For 9th District Seat

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Brooklyn Democrats in a week will cast their ballots in a spate of local, state and federal primary races — including the 9th Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke is defending her seat against challengers Adem Bunkeddeko, Chaim Deutsch, Lutchi Gayot and Isiah James.

James, a housing organizer and retired U.S. Army veteran, has vowed to fight for the district and directed criticism at opponents taking corporate donations.

The 9th Congressional District includes Crown Heights, Flatbush, Midwood, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay and more.

The primary election, slated for June 23, is open to registered Democratic voters. All New York voters may request a mail-in ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ballots must be postmarked by the date of the election for the vote to get counted.

For those who want to head to the polls, click here to find your poll site. Early voting is available from June 13 to June 21.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the primary election to create these profiles. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

33

NYC neighborhood of residence

East Midwood

Position Sought

U.S. Congress

Party Affiliation

Democratic Party

Family

My wife, Damaris, is a public school teacher.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

Brooklyn College - B.A. (Political Science)
Baruch College - M.A. (Public Administration)

Occupation

Housing Organizer, Retired Army Veteran

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

n/a

Campaign website

www.isiahforcongress.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

For generations, Washington has sold out the working-class and the poor. They have ignored the needs of the people. Now is the time for that to change. We need leadership that will reject big money influences and work on behalf of the people.

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

How we respond to COVID-19

Our country was broken before COVID-19, and this virus is exposing all the cracks. Our healthcare system is built to serve insurance company CEOs and shareholders. Our housing is too expensive. Our jobs disappear in the blink of an eye. The gap between the rich and poor keeps getting wider.

We can’t go on this way. I’ll fight for Medicare for All so we never have to worry again about losing our health insurance if we lose our jobs. I’ll advocate for true affordable housing so you and I can afford our rent. I’ll stand with students to demand free college and trade school so that we can all earn enough to live in this great city. I’ll push for a Green New Deal so that we can save our planet. I will fight for these issues – and many more – to move our community forward.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the most progressive candidate in the race, and I will never compromise my values for big money campaign donations.

Our current representative has taken millions in corporate donations from companies with a vested interest in pushing poor people out of our district and ensuring that healthcare remains a for-profit enterprise. She takes money from the largest banks on Wall Street, while the most vulnerable families across central Brooklyn see their homes ripped away by predatory banks. It is time for that to end!

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Our representative has been in Congress for nearly 14 years, and by every metric, people in our community are doing worse. In her nearly 14 years in office, she’s done close to nothing to achieve things like criminal justice reform, fair housing, and universal healthcare.

It’s time to get central Brooklyn back to being unbought. It’s time we have someone in office who fights for the working class. It’s time we reject the notion that there is little we can do to change things or that the plight of working class people cannot be made better.

Central Brooklyn deserves a fighter. Like so many of you, I’ve fought my entire life. And I’m ready to earn your support and take the fight to Washington.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am a disabled combat veteran with experience leading troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The values, experiences, and work ethic I gained in the military are the same that I will bring with me to Washington.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Our campaign is people powered and for the people. If we are ever going to have real change, we need to support one another, stand arm in arm, and fight for it. To read more about our issues, visit www.isiahforcongress.com/issues.