The “vanished voters” of Manhattan could potentially unseat DA Bragg in 2025
A construction worker, a fisherman, and a woman walking by the United Nations were fatally stabbed in Manhattan on Monday in separate, random attacks allegedly by Ramon Rivera, a blood-covered man with a long criminal record who should not have been roaming the streets.
Three lives tragically ended.
Three more reasons to demand the removal of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Pundits suggest Bragg — the lenient left-wing figure significantly responsible for the chaos in New York City — is likely to easily win re-election next year.
Such a scenario would be a disgrace to New York City.
However, it’s not a foregone conclusion.
While no Democratic challenger has emerged yet to contest Bragg in the upcoming June 25 primary.
Data from the recent presidential election shows that defeating Bragg is indeed possible.
On Nov. 5, there were 120,916 fewer Manhattan residents who voted for Harris compared to those who voted for Biden in 2020.
Trump gained 18,000 of these voters, but the majority chose not to vote due to their disapproval of Harris’ extremely progressive platform.
These non-voters in 2024 make up about 70% of the total turnout (143,572) in Manhattan in November 2023 when the current City Council was elected and approximately 40% of the turnout in the 2021 primary when all top city officials were chosen.
This potential group of Manhattan Democrats, dissatisfied with left-wing extremism, could help elect a district attorney who prioritizes law and order over leniency.
However, this is only possible if there is a suitable candidate.
Given the significant shift in Manhattan voting patterns, it is essential for the city’s political leaders to support a candidate who can challenge Bragg’s indulgent approach towards criminals.
A similar change in urban voting attitudes is occurring nationwide.
Urban Democrats are increasingly frustrated with the rise in crime, the presence of homeless encampments, drug use, and general deterioration due to progressive policies in their cities.
On Nov. 5, voters in the most liberal areas of California rebelled, removing Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Alameda County DA Pamela Price, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, and Los Angeles’ Soros-backed DA, George Gascón, from their positions.
Overall, California residents supported Proposition 36 to tighten penalties for drug offenses and shoplifting.
Manhattan Democrats will have the opportunity to replace Bragg in just seven months. The shifting voter sentiment suggests that the time to act is now.
Citywide election results offer further optimism for a rational change in direction.
Trump gained supporters in all five boroughs, but a larger number of disenchanted Democrats chose not to vote, showcasing a growing group of persuadable voters who have become disillusioned with progressive policies.
Citywide, there were 573,618 fewer New York City residents voting for Harris compared to those who voted for Biden in 2020.
Trump gained 94,611 supporters, but the majority decided to abstain from voting.
Despite potential population changes, hundreds of thousands of Democratic-leaning voters rejected the leftward shift of their party.
This group of dissatisfied Democrats is significant enough to impact the outcome of the next election in New York City.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams attributed the decline in Harris’ votes to “anti-Blackness and misogyny.”
This assessment is unrealistic.
Republican Party State Chairman Ed Cox pointed out that voters are tired of the “ideological experiments” originating from Washington, DC., and Democrat Mike Gianaris noted that “Democrats who voted for Biden didn’t vote” in the latest election.
New York Times columnist Ezra Klein highlighted “the rage I just hear from people in New York . . . the sense of disorder rising, not just crime, but homeless encampments, trash on the streets, people jumping turnstiles in subways, crazy people on the streets. You just talk to people and they’re mad about it.”
This frustration persists beyond the presidential election.
New York’s dissatisfied Democrats should be mobilized to support a sensible mayoral candidate and reject the progressive ideologies that have resulted in chaos in the city.
In Manhattan, these dissatisfied Democrats constitute a significant group that could launch a powerful campaign against DA Bragg.
This is a cause worth fighting for.
Bragg prosecutes Daniel Penny, but allows dangerous criminals — individuals with extensive criminal records — to roam freely, instilling fear of random violence among the populace.
It is time to capitalize on this opportunity to unseat him.
Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and co-founder of the Committee to Save Our City.
