What Exactly Is A District Leader? Why Do We Care?

By Jared B. Arader

Lately, you may have noticed LID going ALL IN for District Leader candidates Jesse Pierce and Samy Nemir Olivares. What are these positions? Why do we care, and what is at stake for the LGBTQ community?

District Leaders, officially known as State Committee members, are the advocates-in-chief for our communities and neighborhoods. Representing a district coterminous to a State Assembly district, they serve as members of the governing bodies of both the county and the state Democratic party. They are our voices when it comes to party affairs. Check out all of LID’s endorsed District Leaders HERE.

District Leaders are unpaid. They do not legislate, but they are in a position to influence the policies and priorities of the state and local Democratic party. While all elected officials are ultimately accountable to their constituents, they are also accountable to the party line they run on - they are expected to advocate for the party’s policies and priorities.

District Leaders can make and shape those priorities. They can also make the Brooklyn Democratic Party more effective and responsive to Democrats, particularly here in Brooklyn -- the largest local party in the nation.

There are two District Leaders for every Assembly district. They cannot be of the same gender (until last year, they had to be male or female - thank you out trans state committee member Emilia Decaudin for fixing this!).

Out of 42 District Leaders in Brooklyn, only one currently comes from the LGBTQ community - District Leader Josue Pierre of Flatbush. Electing Jesse and Samy promises to increase this representation while boosting critical progressive priorities.

On another level of party leadership is the County Committee, the ground floor of the party; District Leaders are the Executive Committee of the County Committee. Unlike District Leaders, County Committee members must be either male or female. This year, 8 County Committee candidates were barred election to the County Committee because they do not identify with a binary gender.

This is wrong, and District Leaders have the power to change this. We need more openly LGBTQ District Leaders to help us shine light on this issue and promote justice and equity for transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming persons.

District Leaders also play a role in selecting the Democratic Party’s judicial nominees - Brooklyn currently has two openly LGBTQ judges. There are over 100 judges sitting on various benches in Brooklyn. We need advocates at the party leadership level to ensure that our community continues to be reflected on the bench.

Jesse and Samy represent a font of potential progressive leadership for our party. They each bring an organizing and advocacy background along with a deep connection to our community.

Keep your eyes on our events page for volunteer events for Jesse and Samy soon. We hope to see you there!