Crown Heights United Endorses Hochul, Cunningham, Myrie and James as Activists Vs. Community Division Comes Into Focus

Note From The Editor: Following the publication of this article, an updated endorsement has been circulated in which three names have been undersigned: Rabbis Chanina Sperlin, Yaacov Behrman, and Avi Lesches.

by CrownHeights.info

Crown Heights United has announced its endorsements for New York’s upcoming election, backing Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assemblymember Brian Cunningham, State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, Attorney General Letitia James and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli for reelection. The announcement offers a look at the political priorities of one group of Crown Heights community activists, even as the community continues to trend in another direction over recent election cycles.

The endorsements, announced Sunday, October 19th, come as Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman seeks to unseat Hochul, setting up a statewide contest that also highlights differing political perspectives within Crown Heights’ Jewish community.

Crown Heights United said Hochul earned its support in part because New York opted into the federal scholarship tax credit program, which the organization hopes will help ease yeshiva tuition costs. It also praised the governor for her support of Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and her early visit to Israel following the massacre.

Assemblymember Cunningham was endorsed for his accessibility and responsiveness to community needs, while Myrie received the group’s backing for reelection to the State Senate. Crown Heights United described James, a Crown Heights native, as a longtime ally of the Jewish community and a leader in combating antisemitism.

DiNapoli’s endorsement was tied to his position on investments in Israel. The group cited reporting that the comptroller intends to continue investing in Israel Bonds and is considering additional investments.

Crown Heights United claims in its endorsement that it brings together several community askonim, including veteran advocates, and has issued political endorsements since 2013. Previous endorsements by Crown Heights United included signatories including Rabbi Yaacov Behrman, Zalman Friedman, Jacob Goldstein, Devorah Halberstam, Shea Hecht, Shlomie Hecht, Avi Lesches, Menachem Light, Shmuel Rosenstein, and Chanina Sperlin as well as others.

The present endorsement was made anonymously, with no signatures published.

On the Republican side, the Crown Heights Republican Committee has been publicly involved in efforts to elect Bruce Blakeman governor. In July, the committee announced plans to host Blakeman, the Republican nominee, for a Crown Heights tour and discussion with community leaders about antisemitism, neighborhood safety and concerns affecting Jewish communities. The event was presented as an opportunity to build support for his campaign.

Crown Heights’ Jewish voting patterns have also shifted significantly in recent elections, with the neighborhood emerging as a notable Republican voting bloc despite Brooklyn’s broader Democratic lean and local activists endorsements.

In 2024, Donald Trump received approximately 65% of the vote in a Crown Heights area identified as a major Orthodox Jewish voting bloc, according to an analysis published by Shtetl. By comparison, Kamala Harris won approximately 70% of the vote across Brooklyn, according to Brooklyn Paper.

The shift was also evident in precincts around Kingston Avenue. According to Tablet, Trump’s share of the vote across three election districts between Eastern Parkway and Crown Street rose from approximately 52% in 2020 to 62% in 2024. Meanwhile, local activists have demonstrated the community’s ability to influence Democratic primaries through organized voter participation. Crown Heights United estimated that approximately 4,000 Anash voters participated in the 2021 New York City mayoral primary, helping Eric Adams secure the Democratic nomination.

The figures highlight the complexity of Crown Heights politics: while an increasing share of the neighborhood’s Jewish vote has gone Republican, local and state races have continued to feature endorsements for Democratic candidates. This split makes the endorsements issued by community organizations particularly significant, raising questions about whether their choices reflect the voting preferences of the broader community.