New York Assemblyman Michael Blake has continually derided President Donald Trump’s actions and some of his Cabinet appointments, and the forceful way he’s been delivering that message has catapulted him to the forefront of candidates for vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Blake, who pointedly condemned recent executive orders as unconstitutional and harmful to America’s values and democracy, has racked up numerous notable endorsements, including from New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
This week, Blake received another major endorsement, this time from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
“I’m honored to have Mayor Kasim Reed’s endorsement,” Blake told The Informer. “For the last eight years, we have worked closely together to empower minority and women-owned business enterprises to create jobs and promote urban entrepreneurship, encourage young leaders to become engaged in public service and serve as surrogates who forcefully stand up for progressive causes.”
Reed not only endorsed Blake’s campaign for co-chair, he also joined his campaign for the seat.
The mayor’s backing follows endorsements from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; DNC Vice Chair R.T. Rybak; former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper and Vice Chair Rhine McLin; Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; and many other party leaders across the country.
The DNC executive officer elections will occur in Atlanta during the Feb. 23-26 winter meeting at the Westin Peachtree.
“Michael Blake is just the person we need to help lead the Democratic Party in the right direction,” Reed said. “We have worked together for more than eight years organizing and mobilizing Americans while serving as surrogates across the country, especially across the South in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. He has an outstanding track record in helping elect strong Democratic candidates across the country and his expertise will be invaluable.”
The Atlanta mayor said that with such “atrocities” happening in Washington, “we need bold, progressive, young and diverse local elected leadership to help us win back statehouses, gubernatorial and mayoral seats.”
He said the DNC must build its bench and have a strong resistance to the Trump agenda, which primarily is why he’s endorsing Blake, whose family emigrated from Jamaica before the assemblyman was born in a Bronx, New York, hospital in 1982.
“I am grateful that Mayor Reed supports my vision for the future of our party and, by him joining our team as a Southern co-chair, he will help us earn support across the country so that other DNC members learn about our ‘Leadership for Tomorrow’ vision to build our bench, strengthen our party and embrace our future,” Blake said.
