Longshot challenger Suraj Patel appeared in the Democratic primary debate for the race to represent Manhattan’s Upper West Side and Upper East Side, saying it’s time to retire 70-year-old Reps. Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney.
The call for new blood from the 38-year-old came immediately after Nadler stumbled badly in his own opening statement.
“It’s 2022. It’s time to turn the page on 1992,” Patel, 38, said, taking a swipe at Nadler, 75, and Maloney, 76, during his opening remarks at the debate. co-sponsored by NY1 and WNYC.
Nadler’s speech stuttered during his initial presentation, and he slurred and often seemed unable to think of the right words.
And then Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, went on a veritable rant, proclaiming, “I impeached Bush twice.”
He was referring to his oversight of the politically divisive impeachment of former President Donald Trump, whom he confused with the 41st or 43rd president.
Nadler’s snub seems to prove Patel’s point.
Nadler tripped up several times and even said he was impeaching “Bush” twice. AP/Mary Altafer, Pool
“The Democrats since 1990 have lost every major battle with Mitch McConnell and the Republicans,” Patel said, referring to the Republican Senate leader from Kentucky.
Nadler, meanwhile, sat through the entire 90-minute session, while Maloney and Patel stood in their chairs.
Nadler had many other verbal stumbles during the debate, and at one point, when the moderators offered him a chance to respond as his name was mentioned by an opponent, he appeared stunned and had nothing to say.
At one point, WNYC moderator Brigid Bergin asked Nadler about the meaning of seniority and how he and Maloney differ on policies, two related but different issues.
Nadler responded that seniority is important if used effectively, but forget the Maloney comparison.
“The second, the second question, what was the second question?” Nadler asked.
Maloney made waves for another reason during the debate: She predicted that President Biden, 79, would not seek re-election.
“I don’t believe he’s running for re-election,” Maloney said.
Nadler, meanwhile, would not commit to endorsing Biden’s re-election and would only say, “It’s too early to tell” when asked.
Patel, who noted that his opponents are too old to be re-elected in the House, nevertheless said yes to supporting the re-election of the 79-year-old Biden.
On foreign affairs, all three candidates supported House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and said the Biden administration should not be bullied by China.
Maloney claims she was more effective in office than Nadler, saying she delivered the Second Avenue subway for her district until Nadler’s proposed rail freight tunnel began. Nadler claims he helped secure funding for the Second Avenue subway.
Maloney was defensive about her previous concerns about whether vaccines contribute to autism, a position she has since abandoned.
Maloney and Nadler were elected and served together in Congress for 30 years, first elected in the early 1990s.
Nadler was a former member of the state assembly before his election to the House. Maloney chairs the House Oversight Committee and previously served on the City Council.
Suraj Patel is a 38-year-old Democrat calling for the retirements of Nadler and Maloney. Spectrum News NY
Patel, a self-described “Obama Democrat” and attorney whose family runs a hotel business, is running for a third term in the 12th Congressional District.
The Democrats’ failure to manipulate ultimately pitted Maloney and Nadler—longtime allies—against each other.
The justices threw out the Democratic-drawn maps — which Republicans derided as “Hochulmander” because Gov. Kathy Hochul approved them — as unconstitutional.
As a result, a court-ordered special master merged Maloney’s East Side territory with Nadler’s West Side base, and Nadler wasted no time in immediately announcing that he would run in Maloney’s district, ensuring that at least one of the old incumbents will be out of business next year.
Nadler decided to run in the 12th CD against Maloney instead of the 10th district, which he currently represents, because the reconfigured 10th cut his turf on the Upper West Side and took communities in Brownstone and South Brooklyn, part of the city. which he is never introduced.
The primary election will be held on August 23, and early voting will begin on August 13.
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