Maloney and Nadler? New York Must choose a side (East or West)

Sitting in the shade of Riverside Park on a recent glittering weekday morning in Manhattan, Representative Jerrold Nadler attempted to understand how two powerful allies suddenly went to war.

One redraw by court order New York’s congressional district lines combined the East and West sides of Manhattan into a single district for the first time since World War II, puts Mr Nadler and Representative Carolyn Maloney, a longtime colleague, on a course of potentially catastrophic collisions in the party’s August 23 primaries. Democracy.

Attempts to broker a peace settlement have been made, but Mr. Nadler, drinking a chilled Diet Coke, admits they were a bit lukewarm.

He recalls telling Ms Maloney in a private conversation on her floor in Washington a few days earlier that he would win, asking her to run for a neighborhood seat.

“She basically said the opposite, and so it was an impasse,” Mr. Nadler said, “and we left it at that.”

On an island famous for Democratic infighting, Mr. Nadler, 74, and Ms. Maloney, 76, have managed to live more or less peacefully for three decades.

They built parallel political machines and amassed important committee chair positions. Along the way, they’ve become powerful heroes – if not political mascots – in their district: Miss Maloney, a groundbreaking feminist and widow of an investment banker. represents an East Side district so rich that it was once named a silk district. ; Mr. Nadler, an old-school progressive, takes a proud stance, upholding the West Side view.

But their long armistice ended up falling apart last week, when a state court imposed a significant revision to New York’s congressional map. The new lines have stirred Democrats across the state, but perhaps nowhere is the change more disruptive than Manhattan.

“I have to say it’s sad,” Ms. Maloney said in an interview near her home on the Upper East Side. “It’s sad for the city.”

The main confrontation between Mr Nadler and Mrs Maloney may have been one of the most bruised political scenes in living memory, a terrifying clash between two respected elders of their careers. And it will take place at one of America’s most politically influential foundations – home to financiers, media and entertainment giants, and a source of millions of dollars in campaign funding. contest each election cycle.

Not since Bella Abzug challenged West Side rep William Fitts Ryan to a 1972 race with two freestyle icons against each other that New York City has faced a likely primary contest quite intense.

“Nobody forgot that,” said Harold Holzer, a historian and former assistant to Ms. Abzug, of the primary competition. “Perhaps this will be more heartbreaking than angry. But for those who have lived through it for the first time and still suffer from it for years, history is repeating itself. “

However, neither Mr Nadler nor Ms Maloney waste time working on the phone pressuring union leaders, former political allies and wealthy donors – many of whom they’ve been sharing for years – choose sides.

Mrs. Maloney’s allies whisper in doubt about Mr. Nadler’s health. (His aides say his health is good.) Associates of Mr. Nadler circulation of old articles about Maloney’s obsession with raccoons, and suggested that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is officially neutral in the race, actually prefers him.

For all their superficial differences, Mr. Nadler and Mrs. Maloney had very similar career arcs.

Both entered local politics in New York City in the 1970s. Mr. Nadler was a young attorney who started a self-proclaimed reform group, the West Side Kids, and won a seat in the National State Assembly in 1976. Ms. Maloney, a former teacher, was a top legislative assistant in Albany before winning a City Council Seat in 1982. She was the first Council member to give birth to a child. while in office and was the first to introduce law empowering same-sex couples.

They arrived in Parliament within two months of meeting in the early 1990s. Mr. Nadler safely inherit his Western Democratic seat when incumbent died of a heart attack on the eve of primary session. Miss Maloney had to work harder for her, upset a longtime liberal Republican, Bill Greento win the East Side seat once held by Mayors John V. Lindsay and Edward I. Koch.

Mr Nadler and Ms Maloney are among the most progressive members of the House of Commons and both lead prestigious committees. Ms. Maloney is chair of the Oversight and Reform Commission, most recently overseeing a Post office overhaul. Mr. Nadler leads the Judiciary Committee, a role catching his attention all over the country in the two impeachments of President Donald J. Trump.

Neither legislator grew up in Manhattan. Ms. Maloney from Greensboro, NC Mr. Nadler, the son of a one-time chicken farmer, grew up primarily in Brooklyn. Both have strongly rejected pleas to retire.

“I have never been more effective,” Ms. Maloney said.

Mr. Nadler, the city’s only remaining Jewish congressman, was even more blunt: “No. No no no no no.”

Ms. Maloney entered the race with a clear, if small, demographic advantage: She represented about 60 percent of voters in the new area. According to data from the Center for Urban Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center, the gap is narrowing among Democratic primary voters.

Political analysts are warning that the outcome could depend on who votes in a primary vote in late August, when many residents of the Upper East and West Coast regions flock to the Hamptons or the Valley Hudson.

A third Democrat, Suraj Patel, is also running. His premise was that it was time to give the younger generation a chance to take the lead. He came within four percentage points beat Miss Maloney early two years ago. (By contrast, Mr. Nadler has not had a close election in nearly 50 years.)

“If you’re happy with the status of New York, the country or the Democrats, they’re your candidate,” said 38-year-old Patel.

For now, predictions about which candidate will win appear to correlate with the proximity of the Hudson and East Rivers.

“The West voted a lot, that was to our advantage,” said Gale Brewer, a former Manhattan district chairman who now represents the area on the City Council. She added of Mr Nadler, whom she is supporting: “He’s got a scary brain.”

Rebecca A. Seawright, a congresswoman from the Upper East who supports Ms. Maloney, said the congresswoman has “endless energy” and an innate understanding of women’s priorities that her allies believe would resonate with voters in a year where the Supreme Court could strike. down Roe v. Wade.

“All a person has to do is tell Carolyn Maloney, no, she can’t do it, and she will prove them wrong,” Ms. Seawright said.

Maloney’s uniqueness was evident one afternoon this week, as she sipped coffee outside Blank Street Coffee on Madison Avenue, near her longtime home, making small talk with passers-by. while answering questions from a reporter.

A well-dressed middle-aged man, who identified himself as Hal, said: “Finally for you. He stopped to talk to Miss Maloney about the impending abortion decision.

In an interview, she cited her success in securing money to build a 2nd Avenue subway line, the fight for the National Women’s History Museum in Washington, and her appearance. recently on the Russia sanctions list.

“The difference is not whether you are male or female, but how effective you are,” she said. “Of all the jobs I’ve taken on, I’m the first woman to ever take it on.”

Mr. Nadler plans to present himself to voters as a more principled progressive. He supports his role in Mr Trump’s impeachments and has frequently pointed out that he and Ms Maloney were on opposite sides of the Iraq War (she voted for, he voted against), The Patriot Act (she was for, he was against) and the Iran nuclear deal (he voted for, she is against).

But any reason will do. “Voters will obviously vote for me because I’ve lost weight,” quipped Mr Nadler after a man approached him to compliment his thinner body.

Both candidates downplayed the differences between their parties in Manhattan, just for the sake of common interests and common cultural institutions. But they clearly have more work to do to convince voters.

When asked if she has a favorite West Side retreat, Ms. Maloney mentioned booksellers on the corner (“It’s kind of European”), “cultural institutions” and “ passion for social action”. But to land the name of a restaurant loved by generations of New Yorkers, she struggled again.

“There’s a deli over there; It’s called Grass junior,” Ms. Maloney said hesitantly, but was quickly interrupted by an aide who reminded her she meant Barney Greengrass. “You’ve gone a million times,” said the aide.

Reached by phone, Gary Greengrass, whose grandfather established his headquarters on Amsterdam Avenue in 1908, said he couldn’t remember meeting Ms. Maloney there but Mr. Nadler was a regular diner. However, Mr Greengrass said he intends to be “like Switzerland” in the competition.

Mr. Nadler named the Metropolitan Museum as his favorite East Side establishment: “Ever since I watched ‘The Ten Commandments’ as a kid, I’ve been interested in Egypt.”

However, any sense of humor seems to have been lost for many New Yorkers, who see the choice between the two as an inevitable loss, forcing them to explain without explanation. much liked by a state court five hours away.

Regardless of the outcome, the campaign will make New York City a senior Democrat with a swing to bring home money, and a distraction from the more pressing battles the party is fighting. Democrats are trying to mess with Republicans.

“People like me should be actively trying to help Democrats around the country,” said Ken Sunshine, a veteran public relations executive who is planning to raise money for Mr. Nadler. That’s what I really focus on. “Instead, I will organize events and plots and plans to defeat a friend of mine. Is crazy “.

During conversations in Manhattan, the prospect elicited a series of sighs from Democratic voters like Joy Schulman, an Upper West Side resident, who said she admired both candidates. long time pill.

“It’s a pity that it all ended this way,” she said.