Working Families Party backs Khaleel Anderson in vacant Assembly District 31

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The Working Families Party endorsed Khaleel Anderson in the race for Assembly District 31. Photo courtesy of Working Families Party

The Working Families Party endorsed Khaleel Anderson in the race for Assembly District 31. Photo courtesy of Working Families Party

Rachel Vick 

The Working Families Party has endorsed community activist Khaleel Anderson in the chaotic race for Queens’ Assembly District 31, a seat vacated by former Assemblymember Michele Titus, who was elected to a civil court judgeship last year.

At least seven candidates are running to represent the district, which includes Far Rockaway, South Ozone Park and South Richmond Hill, but the race has been thrown into disarray by the COVID-19 outbreak. Gov. Andrew Cuomo postponed a special election that was scheduled for April 28 until June 23, the same day as the state primary elections for all state Assembly districts, including 31.

To further complicate matters, Anderson, a member of Community Board 14 and the Rockaway Youth Task Force board, was not running in the special. He instead focused on the June primary.

Despite the confusion, WFP Director Sochie Nnaemeka said the organization backed Anderson, 23, because he has already “done more for his community than most could hope to do in a lifetime.” 

“From serving on his community board to building community gardens in his neighborhood to pushing the MTA to extend the Q52 rapid-transit into a transit desert, he is constantly on the frontline,” Nnaemeka said.

Anderson recently helped launch the Mutual Aid Network of Southeast Queens, an initiative to connect community members affected by COVID-19 with needed resources. 

“I grew up here in Far Rockaway, so I know firsthand that we need a progressive fighter in Albany who will advocate for affordable housing, criminal justice reform, and better food access,” Anderson saiad. 

The WFP has been gradually rolling out its slate of preferred candidates over the past several months, weighing in on a few Queens districts, including the race for Jackson Heights’ Assembly District 34.

At least six other candidates are running in Assembly District 31, including Democratic District Leader Richard David, who has the support of the Queens County Democratic Party.

Tavia Blakley, a former staffer in Titus’ office; Chiedu “Shea” Uzoigwe, a former staffer for State Sen. James Sanders; Lisa George, a current staffer in Sanders’ Rockaway office; Derrick DeFlorimonte, a Community Board 13 member; and Varinder Singh, a real estate consultant and construction manager are also running in the hectic contest.