Boris Santos To Launch State Assembly Campaign In Bushwick

BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN — Left-wing State Assembly candidate Boris Santos will kick off his primary bid on Thursday in Bushwick.

Santos, who is running against Assembly Member Erik Martin Dilan, said he expects to see more than 100 people at the campaign launch, which will begin at 6:30 p.m at Barchaa, a Peruvian restaurant at 567 Wilson Ave .

"I’m super stoked for it. It’s the first formal event of the campaign," Santos told Patch Tuesday on a call. "I’m excited to show in full force that this is a people-powered campaign."

Santos, 28, is a socialist former chief of staff for State Sen. Julia Salazar, who in 2018 ousted the younger Dilan's father, Martin Dilan. Santos is looking to next year replicate Salazar's leftist insurgency in Assembly District 54, which includes Bushwick, Cypress Hills, East New York and part of Bed-Stuy.

Santos, who also served as a staffer for local Council Member Antonio Reynoso, earlier this month received the endorsementof the Democratic Socialists of America's New York City chapter.

On Thursday, Santos plans on laying out his platform and campaign strategy to his supporters, he said. Among the issues he wants to bring to the fore is his housing platform, which was released this week.

"I'm definitely going to talk about housing, which is a critical need in our district," he said.

Santos said he also wants to highlight government transparency, education and climate change.

In addition, Santos predicted it will be apparent from his kick-off event that his left-wing campaign will not just be backed by white newcomers.

"When it comes to people talking about, ‘Boris is trying to do the bidding of gentrifiers or trying to do the bidding of white folks … I want to say come to our campaign launch and look at multi-racial, diverse [group of] people that show up and look for yourself at who is fighting the good fight with me," he said, referencing a recent City & State story that observed the bulk of DSA-backed candidates' support has come from gentrifying neighborhoods.

"We are a campaign that’s people powered both by long-term community members, short-term community members, friends family, comrades and black and brown folks," he added. "I look forward to ending that claim."