The Women’s Equality Party of New York is refusing to nominate the Democratic nominee in the April 19 special election for Assembly, 65th district. See this story. As far as is known, this is the first time the Women’s Equality Party has abstained from cooperating with the Democratic Party since the party was born in 2014. The Democratic nominee, Alice Cancel, is a woman.
In New York State, special elections — in which the candidates are selected by party bosses, not a primary — are how one out of every four state legislators first get elected. Minor parties, including ones like Working Families, Women’s Equality, Conservative, Independence, that usually cross-endorse major party candidates, are crucial to maintaining at least the chance of fairness. See this story on cronyism in special elections from WNYC (who are having their winter pledge drive now and could use your contribution for their great shows, including On The Media): http://www.wnyc.org/story/whiff-cronyism-race-silvers-seat/
Today, Democratic Assemblyman Nick Perry, chair of the state assembly’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, endorsed the Working Families Party candidate for this seat, not the Democrat.
Other Democratic legislators are expected to follow his lead.
http://observer.com/2016/02/top-assembly-democrat-backs-wfp-candidate-for-sheldon-silvers-seat/