Pundits have deemed it one of the nastiest Congressional primaries this year, certainly the nastiest in New York City, but on Tuesday, September 14 it will be the voters who ultimately decide the Democratic nominee for Congress in District 14.
Incumbent Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, who has represented the Manhattan and western Queens district since 1992, is facing a challenge from political upstart Reshma Saujani, an attorney and community activist who has spent a lot of time and money campaigning, particularly in western Queens.
“I’m 100 percent confident we’re going to win,” Saujani told The Queens Courier in an interview on Friday, September 3.
Saujani, who has been active for months on the campaign trail often attending and hosting small gatherings with western Queens residents, believes that residents are excited about the primary.
“They have had more contact with me and my campaign than they have had with Carolyn in the past 18 years,” Saujani said.
For much of the campaign, Saujani’s camp has been on the attack. They have been very aggressive making it known that Maloney’s camp turned down numerous requests to debate their challenger. Two weeks before the primary, a web game was launched where users controlling Maloney had to try to dodge debates and issues in order to receive points. In addition, they launched a web site, www.therealcarolynmaloney.com with videos and facts about Maloney.
Meanwhile, the Maloney campaign has insisted that the Congressmember is focusing on her job in Washington and representing her constituents. The campaign, which is made up of hundreds of volunteers, will continue to go door-to-door to talk with voters about Maloney’s accomplishments including passing her Credit CARD Act and her focus on creating jobs for local residents.
“Carolyn has been talking about the issues New Yorkers care about, while our opponent has resorted to the types of desperate, negative political attacks that voters are tired of,” said Maloney spokesperson Alix Anfang.
During a debate on WWRL 1600 radio Tuesday, September 7 – the only debate between the two – both candidates spent much of their time focusing on the people of western Queens even though Queens is the smaller part of the district compared to Manhattan.
Saujani accused Maloney of not recognizing the poor economic conditions many of her residents were facing, including citing 45 percent unemployment rates for the residents of the Queensbridge Houses. Saujani also said that only 5 percent of Maloney’s federal earmarks went to western Queens.
For her part, Maloney spoke about recently securing $57 million for the Queens Plaza redevelopment project and $23 million for the Floating Hospital in Long Island City. In addition, Maloney talked about being a leader on two of the biggest infrastructure projects in the country that will create thousands of jobs for residents – the extension of the Second Avenue subway line and the Sunnyside Yards project.
“I view public service very much as a loan, one that I must repay each and every day I am in office,” Maloney said.
