Edwin DeJesus’ underdog achievement occurs at a time when support for 3rd parties are at an all time high. A recent Gallup poll shows 62% of U.S. adults say the “parties do such a poor job representing the American people that a third party is needed.” Last year, Governor Cuomo pushed forward higher ballot access thresholds for third parties into the state budget. As a result, several minor parties lost their ballot status including the Green Party, Libertarian Party, Independence Party and SAM Party. The Working Families Party kept their ballot line by a thin margin. Although District 22 is a Democratic stronghold, DeJesus says he is building a diverse coalition of working class people from all backgrounds. DeJesus claimed, “The other day I was speaking with voters at Eddie’s Barber Shop when a Republican promised he would vote for me simply because I am not a Democrat. I’ll take it!”
Source: Will Queens Elect New York’s First Green Party Councilmember? – www.gp.org