Two political groups proud of Ryan race

Two Bronx political activist organizations, Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Riverdale and The Unity Democratic Club, helped lock in a victory for Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan in the Hudson Valley.

Ryan defeated Republican Colin Schmitt won by a margin of less than 1 percent, or 2,000 votes, with 95 percent reporting.

Together the coalition operated 50 door-knocking shifts between Sept. 18 and Election Day. Bend the Arc also hosted seven phone banks during that time, making approximately 1,100 calls.

“I am proud of the Unity Democratic Club and Bend the Arc: Jewish Action Riverdale, our combined efforts helped to keep NY-18 blue and demonstrates our successful work with the NY State Democratic Party,” said Betsey Knapp, acting president of the Unity  Club.

Bend the Arc and the Unity Club decided to focus their support on Ryan’s race after watching him run an impressive, and successful, campaign in a special election in August. After redistricting and Sean Patrick Maloney’s decision to run in New York’s 17th Congressional District, Ryan ran for a full term in the 18th Congressional District.

In both elections, Ryan ran on a platform of supporting reproductive rights for women, fighting threats to democracy and extremism, supporting common sense gun laws, and leveling the playing field for working families and small businesses.

“I’ve been organizing in Riverdale and lower Westchester since I joined Bend the Arc in 2016,” said Madeline Ritter, a political activist.

Across the country political activists had record numbers of conversations with voters that led to Democrats defying expectations in the Hudson Valley, unlike other races in the Hudson Valley and Long Island.