NEW YORK, NY — Democratic candidate for governor Cynthia Nixon today publicly announced her support for Robert Jackson, who is running to represent New York’s 31st State Senate District – against current State Senator and IDC member Marisol Alcantara. In Washington Heights, Jackson also announced his support for Cynthia’s bid for governor. He cited their 17 years of work together at the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and their shared belief that the next Governor has to fully fund Foundation Aid.

“Cynthia Nixon is a committed, passionate and smart advocate for progressive values, and I’m proud to support her today and receive her endorsement,” said Robert Jackson. “For almost two decades, I’ve worked with Cynthia fighting to fix a rigged state school funding formula that was cheating our children and undermining their future. Cynthia understands we need to invest in schools, not jails. I know we can count on Cynthia to finally fully fund our schools, work to fix our broken mass transit system, pass the Reproductive Health Act and to stand up every day for affordable housing, healthcare for all and equality, justice and fairness.  And that’s exactly what we need to move our state forward for all of us. I look forward to joining Cynthia Nixon in Albany next year to help make New York the progressive leader it must be to protect our families against the policies of Trump.”

Throughout his career, Robert Jackson has fought for equality in New York schools. He is a founder of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity and architect of lawsuit that led to a commitment to increase operating aid by $5.5 billion annually for high needs districts. Currently, schools across New York State are currently owed a total of $4.2 billion in Foundation Aid.

“I have had the privilege of knowing Robert for nearly 20 years fighting on the frontlines to improve school funding in New York. Robert is so committed to our children that he walked 150 miles from New York City to Albany–not once, but twice,” said Cynthia Nixon. “This is the sort of advocate we so desperately need in our state senate. It’s time to put an end to the obstructionist behavior from State Senator Alcantara, the IDC, and Andrew Cuomo. For far too long they have allowed the Republicans to control the New York State Senate, and the people of New York have suffered as a result. Now more than ever, we need strong, progressive candidates to come forward and fight back against the IDC’s destructive policies. When I’m Governor I look forward to working with him to finally pass progressive legislation, and to invest in our children and families with schools not jails.”

Robert Jackson’s endorsement marks the 24th endorsement for Cynthia over the last month, following the endorsements from the Democratic nominee for New York’s 14th Congressional District, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York State Senate candidate in the 13th district Jessica Ramos, New York State Senate candidate in the 18th district Julia Salazar, New York City Council Member Antonio Reynoso, Former City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, and 15 Democratic officials from the Hudson Valley area. This adds to endorsements from Justice Democrats, The Jewish Vote, #VOTEPROCHOICE, Grand Street Democrats, Our Revolution, Center for Popular Democracy Action (CPD Action), Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Downtown Independent Democrats, 350 Action, author Bill McKibben, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Tenants PAC, the Staten Island Democratic Association (SIDA), Coalition for a District Alternative (CODA), Broadway Democrats, Village Independent Democrats, Council Member Carlos Menchaca, Three Parks Independent Democrats, Democracy for America, Daily Kos, New Kings Democrats (NKD), the Working Families Party, Make the Road Action, New York Communities for Change, Citizen Action, and the New York Progressive Action Network.

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