City Council Candidate Amit Bagga and Mayoral Candidate Maya Wiley at Queensbridge Houses
June 14, 2021 By Ryan Songalia
A progressive city council candidate picked up a significant cross-endorsement from a surging mayoral candidate.
Amit Bagga, who is running to represent the 26th Council District, exchanged endorsements with Maya Wiley. The two appeared together Sunday at Queensbridge Houses in Long Island City to make the announcement.
Wiley praised Bagga for his work at NYC Census 2020, where he served as Deputy Director.
“Amit is a dedicated and brilliant public servant and a progressive champion who shares my vision for the future of New York,” Wiley said.
Bagga says Wiley, a progressive who has risen to second place in the most recent polling, is the “only choice” for mayor for those who support progressive policies such as free healthcare for all, tackling climate change and bringing about police reform.
“With our shared vision and values, we will build a district, a borough, and a city that offers economic opportunity to all, so that we may all live with dignity, and build power – together,” said Bagga, who is running to replace the term-limited Jimmy Van Bramer in a district that includes Woodside, Sunnyside, Long Island City and a portion of Astoria.
In the latest Pix 11/Emerson College poll, conducted on June 7-8, Wiley came in second with 17 percent support, behind Adams with 23 percent.
She has surged 8 points since Pix 11/Emerson College did a poll on May 23-24.
Her rise comes on the heels of some significant endorsements, such as from Congressional representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, plus U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Bagga has raised the third most campaign money in the 26th District Council race, at $57,006, based on the most recent campaign finance disclosures. Julie Won, with $69,199, and Brent O’Leary, with $58,919, have raised more.
Bagga has received endorsements from State Senators Jessica Ramos and Julia Salazar – who are among the state’s leading progressive lawmakers – as well as former gubernatorial candidates Cynthia Nixon and Zephyr Teachout.
Early voting in the New York City primary races began on June 12 and will run until June 20, with Election Day set for June 22.
