ASSEMBLYWOMAN NIKKI I. LUCAS ELECTED AS PARTY CHAIR

Brooklyn, NY — On Sunday, October 4, 2026, New York State Assemblywoman Nikki I. Lucas was elected as Party Chair.

Assemblywoman Lucas, who represents the 60th Assembly District in Albany and serves as Democratic District Leader and State Committee Member, assumes the chairmanship following last week’s announcement by Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn that she would not seek reelection as Party Chair.

Joining Chair Lucas at the helm of the party is a newly composed executive leadership team reflecting Brooklyn’s diverse coalitions and seasoned grassroots leadership:

Nikki I. Lucas, Chair
Kenesha Traynham-Cooper, 1st Vice Chair
Félix W. Ortiz, 2nd Vice Chair
Donald Day, Secretary
Chris Durosinmi, Assistant Secretary

Under the Party’s governing bylaws, the Executive Committee—composed of Democratic District Leaders elected from each Assembly District across Kings County—holds the constitutional authority to administer party operations, and fill vacancies to ensure organizational continuity and effectiveness.

“I am deeply honored by the vote of confidence from my fellow District Leaders and our Executive Committee,” said newly elected Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Nikki I. Lucas. “Brooklyn is the powerhouse of the Democratic coalition in New York, and our party is at its strongest when we are united, transparent, and rooted in our neighborhoods. Alongside 1st Vice Chair Kenesha Traynham-Cooper, 2nd Vice Chair Félix W. Ortiz, Secretary Donald Day, and Assistant Secretary Chris Durosinmi, our administration is focused on building an energized, battle-tested organization that empowers grassroots organizers, expands voter registration, strengthens judicial vetting, and protects Democratic majorities up and down the ballot. I extend my profound appreciation to Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn for her trailblazing leadership and dedicated service to Brooklyn over the past six years.”

The transition follows the tenure of outgoing Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who made history in 2020 as the first Black woman and first Haitian American to chair a county committee in New York State. During her leadership, the party restructured and diversified its judicial screening panel by granting permanent seats to minority and specialty bar associations, created transparent public judicial forums, and directed crucial grassroots field mobilization efforts across state and national battlegrounds.

“Serving as Chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party has been a profound honor, entrusted with leading one of the nation's most influential Democratic Organizations.” said Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. “When I made the decision not to seek another term as Party Chair, my goal was to ensure our party continued moving forward with strength, purpose, and focus. Assemblywoman Nikki I. Lucas is a dedicated public servant, an experienced organizer, and the right leader to unify our party as we head into the high-stakes 2026 elections. I congratulate Chair Lucas and look forward to working side-by-side with her to deliver for Brooklyn.”

With the new leadership team seated, the Executive Committee will immediately pivot to coordinating general campaign operations, marshaling resources for pivotal South Brooklyn legislative battlegrounds, and expanding voter registration and civic activation across the borough.

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About Assemblywoman Nikki I. Lucas

Nikki I. Lucas represents the 60th District in the New York State Assembly and serves as a Democratic District Leader and State Committee Member. Raised in civic involvement from a young age, she is a longtime resident of Starrett City and a dedicated advocate for the neighborhoods of East New York, Brownsville, and Canarsie.

Before assuming elected office in February 2022, Lucas built a diverse career as a management consultant, a small business owner, and a community advocate. She is the founder of The People First Democratic Club and The People First Education Fund, organizations dedicated to uplifting residents citywide. In the Assembly, Lucas focuses on housing, economic development, healthcare, and labor, serving on numerous committees to drive policy that supports working families. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in policy studies and conflict resolution from Syracuse University.

We represent Democrats from every corner of this borough, all part of the largest county party in the country. We are an inclusive and diverse organization with leaders and activists from every neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Democratic Party