On the basis of the evaluation factors identified under Our Approach, DRUM Beats assesses candidates in the following ways:
Movement Builder Endorsement
For candidates with a transformational vision, with an excellent past record, solid political practice, and formally pledging to practice co-governance.
Endorsement
For candidates with a transformational or progressive vision, and a good past record and political practice.
There are additional candidates who we will work with to meet the above standards, and will support their campaigns on the ground, but will not be endorsed or be publicly identified as receiving our support.
2022 Endorsements
NYS Senate Endorsements
DRUM Beats endorses David Alexis for NYS Senate District 21 ‼️ David is a working class immigrant, livery driver, union leader, and community organizer from Brooklyn who understands the struggles our communities face. He has been fighting for justice for app based drivers for much of his career and that experience drove him to run for office. As a state senator David would fight for the New York Health Act, place a moratorium on hospital closures, and guarantee fair pay and dignified working conditions for home care workers. As a candidate, David possesses a rare combination of the experience of being working class, and having a theoretical grounding towards pro-working class and transformative politics.
DRUM Beats endorses Christian Amato for NYS Senate District 34 ‼️ Christian is a first-gen Bronxite who comes from a working-class union family. Over the past decade, he’s worked across the Bronx with many communities bringing inside knowledge of how government, and especially community funding, works. As a State Senator he would focus on Reimaging our Housing Systems by working with advocates on the ground and Reform our Healthcare system fighting for Single Payer healthcare. We found his record to be consistent in his practice of working with communities, rather than for communities.
DRUM Beats endorses Kristen Gonzalez for NYS Senate District 59 ‼️ Kristen is a first-generation daughter of immigrants who was born and raised in Queens. She has been a stalwart fighter for her community, resisting Amazon, working on community land trusts, and the internet for all campaign. As a State Senator Kristen would fight for a Green New Deal ensuring our future generations have a place to call home and push for the Excluded Workers Fund for our immigrant workers. Rather than an ambitious careerist, Kristen was recruited by movement organizations to run.
NYS Assembly Endorsements
DRUM Beats endorses Jonathan Soto for New York State Assembly District 82 ‼️☀️ Jonathan Soto comes from a working-class family from Puerto Rico and has been a fierce organizer for his other communities in the Bronx. As an assemblymember he would fight to end mayoral control of public education, implement a system of community partnerships of schools, and have his office serve as an organizing and training hub for constituents, partners, unions, and movements to pass people-first legislation. Our members have organized alongside Jonathan before around Good Cause Eviction, trust he will take lead from movements, and are excited to continue to organize alongside him.
DRUM Beats endorses Jessica Altagracia Woolford for New York State Assembly District 81 ‼️☀️ Jessica Altagarcia Woolford comes from a working-class family and has been a long-time advocate for working-class and immigrant families inside and outside of government. As an assemblymember Jessica would fight for fair pay for caregivers, ensure that climate justice is made a priority, and tackle the housing crisis while working with the community.
DRUM Beats endorses Karines Reyes for New York State Assembly District 87 ‼️☀️ Karines Reyes comes from a working-class Immigrant family from the Dominican Republic and has dedicated her life to serving her community: first as a Registered Nurse and then as an assemblymember who helped craft legislation like the Excluded No More, a first of it’s kind “unemployment” for undocumented workers and cash earners. We’ve worked closely with Assemblymember Reyes in the past and look forward to seeing her fight to create health equity in the Bronx, push worker friendly legislation, and continue the fight for housing justice.
DRUM Beats endorses Samy Nemir Olivares for New York State Assembly District 54 ‼️☀️ Samy Nemir Olivares comes from a working-class immigrant family from the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Samy has been an organizer fighting for their communities in Puerto Rico and in Bushwick, including starting Bushwick Ayuda Mutual, the only mutual aid network in Bushwick for Latinx families. As an assemblymember, Samy would fight for just housing legislation for the tenants of our state, and additionally would push for the New Deal for CUNY, ensuring all our people have access to higher education. Samy has actively worked to reach out to under represented communities in their districts, like the Bangladeshi community which has long been alienated, and build relationships. We know this kind of initiative is important to bridge divides and build inclusion.
DRUM Beats endorses Keron Alleyne for New York State Assembly District 60 ‼️☀️ Keron Alleyne comes from a working-class immigrant family from Trinidad and Tobago and has been a long time activist in his East New York Community working with many organizations and associations like POWER to build empowerment within his community. As an assemblymember he would continue this work to ensure that we’re tackling the affordable housing crisis, building bridges in our communities, and ensuring we have equity in education. We appreciate Keron’s work around building alternative pathways to community safety, like investing in violence intervention and building ties between the communities that make up this district.
DRUM Beats endorses Illapa Sairitupac for New York State Assembly District 65 ‼️☀️ Illapa Sairitupac comes from a working class immigrant family from Peru and has dedicated his life to working with the community through his Social Work career and history of organizing with the Democratic Socialist of America, especially with the Environmental Justice working group. As an Assembly Member Illapa’s top priority would be fighting for the Green New Deal for New York, ensuring that our future generations have a planet and city to thrive in, he would also push to make CUNY free ensuring we all have access to higher education. Our members appreciated that Illapa was compassionate and took time to understand the needs and issues surrounding our working-class membership. We see this as an important skill for any elected official to have.
DRUM Beats endorses Dr. Anthony Andrews for New York State Assembly District 32 ‼️☀️ Dr. Anthony Andrews has been a long time educator, activist, and stalwart public servant who has been true to his commitments for the betterment of the communities that make up Jamaica and South Queens. As an Assemblymember Dr. Andrews would fight to enact a single-payer healthcare system for all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status, and would fight for equity in resources, especially communities like South Queens where we have seen long disinvestment and alienation. Our members found Dr. Andrews to be upfront, honest, and willing to work with the community at large and learn from them.
DRUM Beats endorses Steven Raga for New York State Assembly District 30 ‼️☀️ Steven Raga comes from a working-class immigrant family from the Philippines and has been a long-time activist in his community, fighting for access to resources and empowerment. As an assemblymember he would fight for equitable funding for underrepresented groups, more services in more languages, and housing for all. Our members appreciated Steven’s work with movement and leftist groups in the past, as well as his commitments around collective leadership with impacted communities.