A Super PAC for the House Democratic Majority will pump $275,000 into Rep. Joe Morelle’s campaign in the blue-leaning upstate district of Rochester — the latest sign of a potential Republican wave sweeping across New York on Election Day.
Morelle — a former state assemblyman who was first elected to the House in 2018 — has faced a strong challenge from Republican La’Ron Singletary, a former Rochester police chief running a law and order campaign.
A poll released in mid-October by the Singletary campaign claimed he was trailing Morelle by only 4 points — 43% to 39% — with the rest of the voters undecided.
House Majority PAC has bought $275,000 in ads to aid Morelle, according to data from the media tracking firm AdImpact and reported by Politico.
Singletary, who is black, could benefit from a racially divisive feud among Democrats over redistricting of the Monroe County Legislature, sources said.
The maps would increase the number of predominantly black-populated districts in the Rochester portion of Monroe County from 2 to 5 and has the support of the NAACP and African-American leaders.
But most of the white county legislators oppose the redistricting plan to expand black voting rights, creating an ugly rift in the local Democratic Party.
“I’m concerned about the factions in the Democratic Party. It could not come at a worse time. The Democrats should be concerned about people staying home,” Rochester County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, one of only two white Democrats in the county legislature backing the redistricting plan, told The Post on Monday night.
“The Republicans are running hard up here. It’s important for Democrats to come out and vote.”
The president of the Rochester County legislature, Sabrina Lamar, a black Democrat who caucuses with Republicans, told The Post she’s not voting for Morelle and respects Singletary. She has had a long-running feud with the congressman.
“I’m not voting for Joe. I’m voting for what’s right,” Lamar said.
Singletary headed the Rochester police force when a mentally ill Daniel Prude died of asphyxiation in custody.
But Lamar said Singletary is connecting with voters by focusing on the crime issue.
“La’Ron knows the community. He’s been faithful to the community for 20 years,” Lamar said. “The violence in the community is affecting everyone.”
Read the full article here
