Martin, Rivera introduce Unity-tied candidates for party roles

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Three new candidates emerged on Feb. 1 for state and local party roles, looking to unseat incumbents backed by Ben Franklin Reform Democratic Club, a 65-year-old political organization.

Betsey Knapp and Bereket Ghebremedhin are running for state committee, and Izaiah Barrow for male district leader. The announcement was made by District Leader Abigail Martin, who is looking to be re-elected.

Though not yet officially endorsed, the new candidates have ties to the other dominant local political group, Unity Democratic Club. The slate — backed by state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, up for re-election — underscores an ongoing battle for political influence in Assembly District 81 between Ben Franklin and Unity.

Former New York attorney general and longtime Riverdalian Oliver Koppell is in support of the slate too, and likened it to his own reform movement in the 1960s. Koppell and the Ben Franklin club opposed political heavyweight and former U.S. Rep. Charles Buckley, part of a broader push in the Bronx for new control over the Democratic party. In 1965, Buckley was succeeded by liberal Democrat Jonathan Bingham.

“We won those elections that [the slate] is now contesting as insurgents,” Koppell said, adding that efforts by Democratic challengers are key to standing up for the needs of local residents.

District leader is a voluntary position in which a person acts as a liaison between the community and Bronx County Democrats. They nominate judicial candidates and staff polling locations, but can also use the role to organize residents around local issues or advocacy work. One male and one female representative are elected every two years.

Martin, who has held the female district leader seat since 2022, said she ran to improve voter turnout and bring “new leadership to this community” by cofounding Unity. The club has since become one of the most active in the Bronx, she said, and continues to grow.

The current male district leader is Ben Jackson, who took the role in 2024 and has not announced his intention to seek re-election.

Izaiah Barrow grew up in Kingsbridge and is the cofounder of Theory 9, a nonprofit that hosts food and toy drives, back-to-school block parties and basketball tournaments. Barrow said he is a pillar in his community, and wants to fight for progressive, practical change rooted in residents’ needs.

“I know the community because it raised me,” Barrow said. “Who I am is a man committed to service. Who I’m becoming is a leader ready to fight strategically, consistently and with integrity for this district.”

State committee member, also a voluntary role with one female and one male representative, is the link between local and state Democrats. Seats are currently held by Johanna Edmondson, founder of the fitness studio Female Fight Club, and Michael Heller, former president and current member of Ben Franklin. Neither has announced their bid for re-election.

Betsey Knapp is a former president of the Unity Democrats and cofounder of activist group Northwest Bronx Indivisible. She got her start in politics in 2015, campaigning for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and has worked on several subsequent Democratic campaigns. Knapp said she is focused on affordability, improving transportation and supporting legislation that helps climate change.

“I plan to listen to my constituents,” she said, “And also to be transparent right after meetings, to report to the community what happened and what direction the party is going.”

Bereket Ghebremedhin is also a member of Unity as well as grassroots activist group Citizen Action of New York. He aims to target issues surrounding the Amalgamated Housing Cooperative in Van Cortlandt Village, which — along with other co-ops and Mitchell-Lama housing developments — are facing a financial crisis. Amalgamated is the oldest of its kind in the nation.

“We can introduce a new era of Democrats,” Ghebremedhin said. “Democrats that will fight on day one to rescue, preserve and build on the legacy that this district provided New York and America, a New York you can afford to own.”

New York’s Democratic primary election will be held June 23.