Squire Picks Up Endorsements from Citywide Democratic Groups
73rd AD candidate endorsed by Stonewall Democrats, 504 Democratic Club and the Lexington Democratic Club
The iconic Stonewall Democratic club made their choice for Manhattan’s 73rd Assembly District, voting to endorse Democrat Russell Squire, who serves as Chair of Manhattan Community Board 8. The club, which was founded in 1986, was the first citywide LGBT organization, making it the oldest LGBT political organization in NYC. Stonewall’s endorsement comes on the heels of the endorsement from the 504 Democratic club, the citywide disability rights Democratic organization, and the Lexington Democratic Club, which is the largest Democratic Club on the East Side of Manhattan and is the only official Democratic Club of the 73rd Assembly District.
“The Stonewall Democratic Club is proud to announce our endorsement of Democrat Russell Squire for Assembly. We endorsed Russell because we know he has the right experience to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. From representing transgender New Yorkers in court, to his leadership as a Democratic activist, Russell Squire has made it clear he’s the best candidate to represent the East Side in the Assembly,” said Brice Peyre, former president of the Stonewall Democratic Club.
Joining Stonewall in endorsing Squire are the Lexington Democratic Club, the Eastside’s largest Democratic club, and the 504 Democratic club, the nation’s first and largest club for disability rights.
“The 504 Democratic Club is proud to endorse Russell Squire in the 73rd Assembly District, said Michael Schweinsburg, 504 Democratic Club President. “Russell has proven he is a strong advocate for the East Side and will represent the disability community strongly in Albany. Russell has shown dedication to accessibility, and we are confident he will help further our goal of making New York a more inclusive and accessible community.”
Lexington Democratic Club President Jacob Tugendrajch said, “From public safety and quality of life problems such as sanitation, to pocketbook concerns including fighting inflation price gouging, Russell Squire is clearly the best candidate, and we are proud to endorse him.”
“I am sincerely honored to have earned the endorsement of the 504, Lexington, and Stonewall Democratic Clubs,” said Squire. “All too often, we see the needs of those with disabilities treated as non-essential or outright ignored. We see LGBTQ+ rights treated as settled law, but as the Supreme Court has recently shown, nothing is guaranteed. We must continue the fight to make our city and state universally accessible and inclusive for all New Yorkers, regardless of sexuality, ability, or identity.”
Russell has also managed to win vital grassroots support from local leaders such as East Side Democratic State Committee Members Conrad Foa, and Bessie Schachter; from all the 73rd Assembly District’s Democratic District Leaders, and from community leaders throughout the district.
In response to Russell’s strong stance on gun control, he received the Gun Sense Candidate distinction from Moms Demand Action, a grassroots organization supporting stronger gun laws.