Republicans are looking to pick up a state Senate seat in a Tuesday special election in a southern Brooklyn district that President Trump carried last year with 77% of the vote.
GOP candidate Nachman Caller and Democrat Sam Sutton are running for a vacant seat after former state Sen. Simcha Felder recently won a special election to fill a vacancy in the City Council.
The 22nd district encampases heavy Jewish neightborhoods including Midwood, Flatbush, Borough Park, Madison, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend and Sheepshead Bay.
Democrats greatly outnumber Republicans but many are moderate-to-conservative voters who will cross party lines.
Felder, a conservative Democrat who once caucused with Republicans, has not endorsed in the race.
Democrat Sutton has deep ties to the Sephardic community. He is a co-leader of the Sephardic Community Federation.
Caller, a Republican district leader, is a real estate lawyer who previously ran for the state Assembly.
Sutton has the support of the Democratic Party establishment, including Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres, a staunch supporter of Israel who is eying a run for governor.
Caller has the backing of upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House Republican chairwoman, and Rep. Mike Lawyer, whose lower Hudson Valley district includes a large orthodox Jewish population.
A former Felder campaign strategist, O’Brien “O.B.” Murray, is working for Caller.
Both sides said it’s a competitive race and voter turnout will likely determine the outcome.
Murray emphasized a Caller victory will leave Democrats two votes shy of a veto proof majority in the Senate.
“This is an opportunity for every voter in the district to say ‘enough is enough’ to the radical liberal agenda in Albany,” Murray said.
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