In a stunning upset, democratic socialist Maurice 'Mo' Brown defeated 28-year incumbent Assemblymember Bill Magnarelli in the Democratic primary for New York State Assembly District 129. Brown secured victory by approximately 100 votes after mail-in ballots were counted, marking a historic win against an entrenched political figure who had often run unopposed.
“The community has spoken, and the message is clear: Housing, healthcare, and education are human rights and the role of government is to protect those rights,” Brown said. “Our victory today is a collective one. It is a victory against big money and establishment politics.”
Brown’s campaign faced significant opposition from corporate interests. In the final three weeks of the primary, DoorDash spent nearly $155,000 on ads to defeat him, according to the press release. Brown also overcame endorsements for Magnarelli from New York Governor Kathy Hochul and other political establishment figures.
Brown was part of the “Affordability Slate” put forward by the Syracuse chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The slate included Jo Bennett, who won her primary for Onondaga County Legislator District 15, and Tammy Honeywell, who lost her race but remains optimistic. “Our movement is growing and we are just getting started,” Honeywell said.
The victories reflect a national trend of democratic socialists defeating establishment candidates. All three candidates received early endorsements from the Syracuse DSA, the New York Working Families Party, and Citizen Action of New York. Brown also secured an endorsement from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a full-circle moment for Brown, who began his political activism as a delegate for Sanders’ presidential campaign.
“The voters chose the priorities we ran on, of affordability, protecting people from ICE, and banning data centers,” Brown said. The general election is set for November 23, where Brown and Bennett will face Republican opponents in heavily Democratic districts.
Syracuse DSA, established in 2018, has grown to hundreds of dues-paying members and focuses on mutual aid, international solidarity with Palestine, opposing ICE, and electing democratic socialists to office. “I've never seen a movement like this in Central New York,” said Jo Bennett, a public school teacher and union organizer. “This is historic, and it's a clear message about the needs of our communities.”
Brown emphasized the collective nature of the victory: “I will be so honored to represent our communities in Albany. I am ready to fight together to deliver on these needs and provide for all our people.”
