The Growing List Of Possible Candidates To Replace Bronx Congressman Jose Serrano Is Short On One Thing: Women

Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y. speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington in May 2018.

While New York City Council members Ritchie Torres and Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. may be light years apart on matters of policy, there's now one thing these Bronx politicians have in common: both are considering bids for the 15th congressional district seat held by Rep. Jose Serrano.

In the few short days since Serrano announced his plans to retire at the end of this term, citing a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, the chattering class has bandied about names of possible candidates to succeed the 16-term representative. Many of these conversations are still in very preliminary stages with more names likely to emerge. But with a primary set for June 2020 that will likely decide the next representative in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans 20 to 1, this week ushered in a conversation that’s set to bring generational change to a very underserved part of the city.

The district spans 14.5 square miles in the South Bronx and includes the neighborhoods of Soundview, Hunts Point, Mott Haven, Morisannia, West Bronx and Fordham Heights—home to both Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo. The population is 67 percent Hispanic with a median household income of just over $29,000. It’s often referred to as one of the poorest districts in the nation.

Even before Serrano’s statement on Monday, City Council member Ritchie Torres filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission creating an exploratory committee for the seat. Torres, 31, is the youngest and first openly gay elected official from the Bronx. He’s championed public housing and mental health particularly for the LGBT community. His candidacy would mark a generational shift for the district with a likely emphasis on progressive policies.

Since filing with the FEC, Torres has hit pause on additional comments about his political career.

Council member Diaz, 75, also made noise about a possible run for the seat on Wednesday. Speaking to WNYC, he said he’s seriously considering a run to represent, “conservative Democrats...a kind of population that's not too much to the left.”

Last month, in an emotional vote, the Council stripped Diaz of his committee chairmanship after he refused to apologize for saying the body was, “controlled by the homosexual community.” Diaz has a long history of inflammatory remarks, but has weathered controversy throughout a lengthy career in both the State Senate and Council marked by consistent positions against abortion and LGBT rights.

Assemblyman Michael Blake, who ran unsuccessfully in last month’s special election for Public Advocate, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera both confirmed they’re also considering a run for the seat.

For state elected officials, the decision to toss one’s hat in the ring comes with greater risk. Unlike years past where a state official could run in a federal primary without risking his or her seat, the state and federal primaries are now consolidated to one day in June. This means a state official will need to choose to run for either state or federal office.

Noticeably absent from this initial list were the names of women—a fact that did not go unnoticed by Brette McSweeney, president of Eleanor’s Legacy, a nonprofit organization that trains Democratic women to run for elected office.

Currently, there are only eight women in New York State’s 27-member congressional delegation. McSweeney said this opening in the Bronx creates an opportunity to reimagine who should be a leader in New York, likening it to how Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shook up the old guard in the neighboring Bronx and Queens district.

McSweeney tweeted one alternative—and in a follow up conversation namechecked half a dozen other women including City Council member Vanessa Gibson, the only woman in the Bronx’s City Council delegation.

Amanda Septimo ran for a State Assembly seat last fall in a long-shot bid against incumbent Carmen Arroyo. While she lost in both the primary and general election, she made a strong impression in the district.

“She acquitted herself well in that race,” said Michael Benjamin, a former Bronx Assemblyman and member of the NYPost editorial board, “People like her.”

Septimo, a 28-year-old community activist who used to be Serrano’s district director, confirmed she is getting calls urging her to run, though she hasn't made any decision yet. She did say she looked forward to a “spirited conversation” that would bring attention to issues like how to preserve affordability in neighborhoods like Hunts Point and how the federal government can finally address the persistent problems at places like the Patterson Houses, a NYCHA development with a litany of complaints.

She is not the only one getting calls. Community activist Samelys Lopez, who grew up in the district and recently spoke at the district inauguration for Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, is also picking up buzz among grassroots activists.

In a Facebook post for the Northwest Bronx Democrats, Amelia Maldonado praised Lopez for her work with seniors in the community. “I am not into politics at all...but...when a person is there...for the community...it should be recognized and applauded.”

Brigid Bergin is the City Hall and politics reporter for WNYC. You can follow her on Twitter at @brigidbergin.