Our Revolution announced its endorsement of organizer and mother-of-three, Melanie D’Arrigo in New York’s 3rd congressional district race on Tuesday, March 1. The organization is described as “the United States’ leading grassroots-funded, political organizing group,” launched by Bernie Sanders following the 2016 election to help everyday Americans take on the corporate establishment.

Campaign officials for D’Arrigo said the organization’s endorsement of her candidacy shows that her progressive platform – centered on getting dark, corporate money out of politics – is resonating both across the district and across the country. “Melanie is dominating the ‘Left Lane’ in this race, and Our Revolution’s support will not only add new boots-on-the-ground volunteers to Melanie’s existing strong organizing infrastructure, but will also help her grassroots fundraise in this multi-person race against her corporate opponents,” D’Arrigo campaign officials said.

Meanwhile, Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, described D’Arrigo as the right candidate to represent New York’s 3rd congressional district, saying, “She’s a member of Our Revolution and an activist who has been building the progressive movement with us on Long Island for a long time. She knows our struggle first-hand – born to working class parents and raised in a union household.” He added, “She’s a healthcare advocate on the front lines of the fight for Medicare for All and a climate activist who will help us to win a Green New Deal.”

Reacting to the announcement, D’Arrigo said, “I am humbled to have the support of Our Revolution in this race for working families across New York’s Third Congressional District.” She said the organization was the leading, people-powered, grassroots campaign in the race, and that it was an honor to have such a group join her coalition. “Like millions of people across this country, I have been inspired by the progressive policies Our Revolution and Bernie Sanders have helped mainstream since 2016,” D’Arrigo added. “We are running for Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, and to get corporate money out of politics, because we know these are American values. Fighting for the people is what it means to be a Democrat.”

As reported, D’Arrigo ran for Congress in 2020, earning nearly 30 percent of the vote. Her campaign said this was despite her being outspent by 9 to 1. Campaign officials said her coalition of endorsers includes the organizations, Brand New Congress, National Organization for Women (NOW), Empire State Indivisible, Matriarch, Progressive Women of NY, Her Bold Move, Moms In Office, Long Island Activists, New York Progressive Action Network, Long Island Network for Change, Indivisible (National), South Shore Dems, Blue America, and No Independent Democratic Caucus NY (No IDC NY).

As reported, the IDC was a group of eight New York State senators, led by former State Sen. Jeffrey Klein, who were elected to office as Democrats but who formed a coalition with Republicans, blocking most progressive legislation in New York State for over seven years. As reported by The New York Times, in the Sept. 13, 2018 Democratic primary, after an unprecedented grassroots campaign, six IDC senators, including Klein, were defeated by progressive challengers backed by the group, No IDC NY, including State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34) who unseated Klein, and who, as reported, is also a candidate in the NY-3 congressional race.

D’Arrigo’s campaign added that she also has the support of individual leaders including Zephyr Teachout, former City Council speaker, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Jaslin Kaur, former Democratic candidate for New York City Council District 23, Danielle Brecker, former Democratic candidate for New York State Assembly District 37, Lauren Ashcraft, former Democratic candidate for New York’s 12th congressional district, Miriam Bensman, candidate for judicial convention delegate in Assembly District 28, Nick Haby, former candidate for district leader (36a position) in Astoria, Queens, Nomiki Konst, former candidate for New York City public advocate, Bernie Sanders surrogate, Vigie Ramos Rios, and Maria Kaufer, female, Democratic, county committee member for Assembly District 28.

The list also includes Shaniyat Chowdhury, former candidate for New York’s 5th congressional district, Shawna Morlock, Western Queens district leader, Bright D Limm, lawyer, tutor, activist, & aspiring neighborhood organizer, Amnimder S. Chahal, Sikh-American organizer, Ozzie Araujo, community & youth development organizer, Marianne Williamson, former U.S. presidential candidate, Alexis Soterakis, Queens community organizer, Dr. Hildur Palsdottir, climate activist and community organizer, Serena Liguori, executive director of a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women and children impacted by incarceration, Rachel Klein, and Ellie Musmeci of Long Islanders for Gun Safety.

Other candidates in the Democratic primary for NY-3, according to Ballotpedia, in addition to D’Arrigo and Biaggi, include Jon Kaiman, who also sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent NY-3, in 2016, and was defeated by the incumbent Democratic congressman, Tom Suozzi. Kaiman is a self-described husband and father, former Nassau District Court judge, and former North Hempstead town supervisor. 

Additional candidates include Navjot Kaur, Joshua Lafazan, a Northwell Health employee, who became the youngest Nassau County legislator when he beat an incumbent in a Trump district in 2017, Reema Rasool, a self-described, life-long New Yorker, business builder, social entrepreneur, community organizer, and mother of two boys, and Robert Zimmerman, one of 44 superdelegates from New York who supported former Secretary of State and then presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, for the 2016 Democratic nomination.

Maryann Maltese, a realtor sales associate at Huntington Homes – Laffey Real Estate, has also announced her intention to run for the seat. Maltese is a former hair designer/stylist at The Falcon and the Two Crowes, and a former regional manager/chief of staff at NYS Assembly.

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