Riverdale Democratic clubs both endorse Kamala Harris for president

We are fighting for the future of our country and for democracy itself”

Jeffrey Dinowitz, assemblyman

One month after clashing with each other in a contentious primary, greater Riverdale’s two Democratic clubs — The Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club and the Unity Democratic Club — have both thrown their support behind Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed Joe Biden as the 47th president of the United States.

The endorsements were, of course, separate.

Ben Franklin Club president Virginia Krompinger, who was a committed Biden delegate to the upcoming national convention in Chicago, said there was no hesitation in the pivot to Harris.

“Now more than ever, Democrats need to stand together and form coalitions to elect our candidate,” Krompinger said, “and I could not be more excited that we have chosen Kamala Harris, whose experience, accomplishments, and character dominate those of the Republican nominee. The excitement among Democrats about her is palpable.”

The Republican nominee for president, for the third-straight election, is former president Donald Trump, who is attempting to become the first two-term, non-consecutive chief executive since Grover Cleveland in 1893.

Trump selected Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee earlier this month.

Harris, who has raised record money since she was confirmed the presumptive Democratic nominee, has yet to choose a running mate, though a handful of governors — Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and Minnesota’s Tim Walz among them — have been heavily rumored. Pete Buttigieg, the current Secretary of Transportation under Biden, has also garnered speculation as a possible running mate for Harris.

In a third statement, Northwest Bronx Indivisible, “a grassroots group committed to democracy and the rule of law,” backed Harris July 26.

In endorsing the vice president on behalf of the Unity Dems, member Ramdat Singh said Harris has energized the process.

“It’s more than a vote of consensus,” Singh said. “We are encouraged by Harris’ great competence to serve the American people.”

Unity also announced the formation of a task force, led by Morgan Evers, interim secretary, “that will foster awareness of the ratifying vote in November through events and get-out-the-vote days of action.”

All members of the community will be invited to take part in the task force’s efforts, which Unity Dems president Betsey Knapp said is an essential one.

“It’s in our hearts,” Knapp said. “It speaks to who we are as Unity Democrats. We must take this action for ourselves, our children, our friends and our neighbors.”

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, formerly a committed Biden delegate, said he will now happily vote for Harris next month in Chicago.

“We are fighting for the future of our country and for democracy itself,” Dinowitz said. “Kamala Harris will fight for all the issues we care about, whether it’s justice for all, the rights of workers, the environment, women’s reproductive rights and so much more. The alternatives are Trump, Vance and Project 2025.”

Project 2025, officially called the Presidential Transition Project, is a 900-page outline for a wholesale conservative takeover of American governance. Its implementation is a longstanding goal of The Heritage Foundation, a Washington D.C.-based think tank with which Trump has a documented relationship.

Endorsing Harris is the rare recent instance of agreement between the Ben Franklin and Unity clubs. Last month’s primary, for four positions with the state party, saw both clubs accuse the other of underhanded tactics. In the end three of the Ben Franklin candidates — branded The Dinowitz Team — were victorious.

But Unity’s Abigail Martin retained her position as district leader. Clarifying she doesn’t speak for the club as a whole, Martin said — though she doesn’t believe Unity has any intention to disband — there can be common purpose with the Ben Franklin Dems where they find it.

“I think there absolutely is room for the clubs to work together,” Martin said.

Dinowitz, not the official spokesman for his club either, told The Press “there is always room to work together,” adding members of the Unity Club were invited to a July 31 Ben Franklin Club Zoom meeting to discuss the national convention and the presidential election.

She may not know it, but Vice President Harris could prove to be a tie that binds Riverdale Democrats together.

She could be.

Election Day is Nov. 5.