Sarahana Shrestha Ran On Climate — And Won Big
In Tuesday's New York State Democratic primary, incumbents mostly carried the day. Challengers backed by the Democratic Socialists of America who took aim at incumbent Assembly Democrats in New York City failed to unseat their more moderate rivals, in races that generated plenty of heated rhetoric but low voter turnout.
Not so in the Hudson Valley. In the 103rd Assembly District, progressive challenger Sarahana Shrestha unseated longtime Assemblymember Kevin Cahill for the Democratic nomination, with the unofficial Election Night vote count standing at 7,702 to 7,173.
What was different about the race in the 103rd? And how did Shrestha — a newcomer to local politics, a socialist, and a recent American citizen — best a well-known local politician who has represented the district for decades?
Plenty of state and national publications are analyzing the results of New York's primaries through the lens of "progressives vs. moderates" — and through that lens, Shrestha's win might look like an aberration. As a reporter on the local climate and energy beat, I'm seeing it differently.
Like her fellow DSA-backed challengers, Shrestha holds plenty of progressive priorities. But she went much further than just positioning herself as a progressive alternative to politics as usual in the district. Shrestha put climate and energy at the center of her campaign, and through a vigorous campaign of voter outreach, was able to connect them to the painful problems of ordinary voters in the district, where skyrocketing utility bills have made Central Hudson a flashpoint for outrage.
At The River, we've been reporting all along on the issues that were central to Shrestha's campaign. Here are three stories that I think are essential background on why she was able to pull off such a stunning victory last night:
"Assembly Candidate Sarahana Shrestha Is Tired Of Waiting": For this lively profile, Lyra Walsh-Fuchs followed Shrestha as she knocked on doors in the district, and paints a picture of a candidate eager to make real connections with frustrated voters.
"Public Power Has Albany Rattled": I wrote this story earlier this month, after Albany's 2022 legislative session wrapped up without making many significant moves on climate legislation. Advocates for publicly-owned power—a key theme of Shrestha's campaign—might not have passed their centerpiece bill this year, but they are growing surprisingly strong.
"Central Hudson Is Broken. Can New York Fix It?" Anger at the Hudson Valley's main utility, fueled by billing problems and skyrocketing bills, has reached a boiling point in the region. In this story, Steven Yoder talks to people facing astronomical utility bills—and explains why New York State regulators and lawmakers have a lot of power to bring the utility to heel, if they choose to.
-Lissa Harris
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