The Brooklyn Can’t Wait campaign on Friday announced that its coalition of 22 incoming District Leaders have voted to nominate and elect District Leader Julio Peña III as chair of the Executive Committee this coming September, positioning him to replace Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.
This coalition constitutes a majority of the Kings County Democratic Party Executive Committee, and together the organizations are looking to replace state Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn who has been at this post since 2020.
A lifelong resident of Sunset Park, Peña has been the District Leader for Assembly District 51 (Sunset Park, Red Hook) since 2020. He just wrapped up his final term as chair of Brooklyn Community Board 7. In his professional life, he works as a director of a high school after school program that prepares students with lifeskills, work experience, and the tools to be successful after high school. Previously, he spent 16 years at Good Shepherd Services.
Brooklyn Can’t Wait was founded in 2022 by a coalition of Democratic clubs and organizations frustrated by the party’s corruption and inaction. The coalition supported District Leader candidates in the last three primary elections to bring change to the party.
Candidates endorsed by Brooklyn Can’t Wait won 14 seats in both 2022 and 2024. In the 2026 June primary, BCW candidates expanded these gains to win an unprecedented 22 seats. Eight candidates won competitive races, joining 14 candidates in the coalition who ran uncontested.
All District Leaders in the coalition signed on to the BCW pledge, a vision for reforming the Brooklyn Democratic Party. The pledge includes commitments to end the failed structure of “bossism” in the party, to bring transparency and oversight to its finances and its political actions, and to build its capacity by reviving the long-dormant committee structure and empowering both District Leaders and the general membership of the County Committee to take on leadership roles.
Previous chairs have effectively selected and anointed their successors, who subsequently ran the party as they saw fit, the coalition said.
"We're thrilled that the coalition has come together to back Julio as the next chair of the party," Bryan Maygers, the spokesperson for BCW said in a statement. "It's the kind of real collaboration and inclusive decision making that the party has been lacking for so long. And there isn't a better person for the job. Julio is a committed community servant and activist and has been a leader on party reform for years. He represents real change from the old ways of doing things in Brooklyn because he is truly here to deliver for his community and for the betterment of the Democratic Party."
District Leaders in the Brooklyn Can’t Wait coalition include: Nakisha Evans, Akel Williams, Diana González, Emmitt Sklar, Angela Kravtchenko, Chris McCreight, Jenna Bimbi, Luke Ohlson, Jacqui Painter, Julio Peña III, Ilyssa Meyer, Aaron Ouyang, Maritza Davila, Felix Ceballos, Sandy Nurse, Alan Gamboa, Carmella Charrington, Omar Hardy, Shaquana Boykin, Akwasi Agyeman, Samia Aljahmi and Mark Hanna.
Elected officials include: Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez; Congressman-elect Brad Lander; Congresswoman-elect Claire Valdez; Borough President Antonio Reynoso; State Senators Jabari Brisport, Andrew Gounardes, Julia Salazar; Assembly Members Robert Carroll, Brian Cunningham, Maritza Davila, Emily Gallagher, Eon Huntley (incoming), Jo Anne Simon, Christian Celeste Tate (incoming); Council Members Alexa Avilés, Jennifer Gutiérrez, Shahana Hanif, Crystal Hudson, Sandy Nurse, Lincoln Restler and Kayla Santosuosso.
The Brooklyn Democratic Party did not immediately respond to an email inquiry for comment.
