What Does BYD Do?

The Brooklyn Young Democrats work tirelessly to elect progressive candidates across the Kings County and NYS. When looking for local candidates to support, our active and discerning membership looks carefully at their records, promises, and history of service to the community. We are proud to have endorsed incumbents, challengers, favorites, and longshot underdogs. In Brooklyn alone, BYD has helped elect Members of Congress, State Senators and Assembly Members, City Council Members, District Leaders, and Judges. We have also helped national and statewide campaigns, including for presidential elections.

In 2018, BYD played an instrumental role in securing a Democratic majority in the State Senate. We endorsed and worked hard to elect State Senator Zellnor Myrie, who defeated a member of the IDC. In Southern Brooklyn, we helped elect State Senator Andrew Gounardes, a BYD member, defeating a far-right Republican incumbent in a red-to-blue district.

In 2020, amidst the unprecedented public health crisis of COVID-19, we helped propel seven of our candidates to victory in the Democratic primary: Rep. Yvette Clarke, Assemblymember Diana Richardson, Emily Gallagher, Stefani Zinerman, Samy Nemir-Olivares, Kristina Naplatarski, and Jesse Pierce. 

In 2022, we helped elect State Senator Iwen Chu, the first Asian-American women in the New York State Senate, in a highly-competitive election.

BYD works hand-in-hand with local community organizations to serve our neighbors in need. When the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged New York in the Spring of 2020, BYD members and the campaigns of our endorsed candidates began working together to reach out to neighbors and residents to make sure they were aware of available services. BYD also promoted mutual aid efforts to assist New Yorkers from all walks of life in need.

As a political organization, BYD takes seriously the responsibility to educate young people and prepare them to be full participants in the civic process. Previous activities have included mentoring high school students, helping young people run for County Committee, educating the public about the roles of District Leaders and Community Boards, and giving space to issue and advocacy groups to present some of the most important public policy challenges to our members.

We have been front and center advocating for progressive policy changes. With Democrats now in control of both houses in the New York State Legislature, many long-sought reforms, laws, and programs have now become a reality.

BYD led the way on a number of fronts in responding to the COVID-19 emergency, from voting rights to housing to police accountability. BYD spearheaded a public letter—signed by several members of Congress, city officials, and local elected officeholders—calling on the Brooklyn Democratic Party to cease challenging ballot petitions during a pandemic. Our members voted overwhelmingly to support rent cancellation during the duration of the public health crisis.

As one of the most diverse political clubs in Brooklyn, we unequivocally support the Black Lives Matter movement. We are proud of our members who have been marching in the streets demanding justice and accountability, doing the work required to address our country and borough’s legacy of racism.

BYD’s commitment to equality and inclusion extends to electing candidates who are representative of our diverse borough. We recently joined other progressive clubs in seeking changes to allow non-binary, genderfluid, genderqueer, and transgender candidates to run for seats on County Committee and for District Leader.

BYD fundraises so we can continue our crucial work supporting political candidates, empowering young people and building our organization. At our 2023 fundraiser, our honorees included Council Member Chi Ossé, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, election attorney and BYD alum Christina Das, and the worker-organizers of Starbucks Workers United.

All of the money raised helps elect Democrats in Brooklyn and across the country. Donate today!