It looked like a victory party before the April 24th special election with all the elected officials in the room to watch Governor Andrew Cuomo endorse 32nd State Senate candidate Luis Sepulveda. There was the Bronx Borough President, members of Congress members of the State Senate, State Assembly and City Council.
Bronx Democratic County Leader Marcos Crespo opened the endorsement with many kind words for his next door neighbor in the State Assembly, and dispelled the rumor that he and Luis Sepulveda were twins. Crespo introduced Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who had only words of praise for Assemblyman Sepulveda's job in the State Assembly. Heastie called the State Assembly the Upper House, and wondered why Assemblyman Sepulveda wanted to go to the lower State Senate.
Above - Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
Below - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Speaker Heastie then introduced Governor Andrew Cuomo, who said "I don't want to get involved in which house is the 'Upper House', because I have to work with both houses of the state legislature. Governor Cuomo praised County Leader Crespo on his dedication to Puerto Rico, and for traveling with him to see the devastation to the island. The governor called Congressman Crowley a rising star in Washington. He went on to blast the National Republican Party and current President for what their policies are doing to New York State economically, and the new tax bill is aimed at the twelve states that are all Democratic. He added that he is one-Hundred percent behind Congressman Crowley in the move to win all congressional districts in New York.
The Governor said that he did not always agree with former State Senator Diaz, but he respected him. Then came the subject of the State Senate, and the two vacant seats. He said with the reunification of the Senate Democratic Conference and the IDC Democrats need only one more seat to have control of the State Senate, saying that more Progressive Democratic legislation would then be passed. He then made his endorsement of Luis Sepulveda, and introduced the next State Senator from the 32nd District Luis Sepulveda.
Soon to be State Senator Luis Sepulveda thanked the governor for his kind words, and said that he did not pick out the orange and blue colors behind him since they are the colors of the Mets, and he is a Yankee fan not a Met fan. He thanked his mentor now Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr., and hoped to see Mayor Ruben Diaz Jr. in 2021. He also praised former Bronx Democratic Leaders Roberto Ramirez, Jose Rivera, and Carl Heastie.
Sepulveda then went on to say he will be continuing his fight for Justice, better education, that the elderly don't have to decide to pay for medicines or the rent, to make poverty a thing of the past, and fight the assault on labor unions by the federal government. He said that he was glad to see the unification of the State Senate, and thanked Senator Stewart-Cousins and his friend Senator Klein who he called a progressive. He thanked his wife and son, and his father saying that he owes all he is to today to his father.
Above - Candidate for the 32nd State Senate District addresses the audience after receiving the endorsement of Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Below - Elected officials clap as soon to be State Senator Luis Sepulveda thanks Governor Andrew Cuomo for his endorsement.
