Harlem Senate Race: Benjamin Backs Cleare Against Independent

HARLEM, NY — The battle for Harlem's open State Senate seat seemed set to end when a Democratic nominee was chosen. Now, it appears the race will continue through November's general election — and then resume next spring.

Cordell Cleare, a Harlem district leader, was nominated by her party last month to run in the special election for the 30th Senate District, replacing Brian Benjamin, who became lieutenant governor of New York.

On Thursday, Benjamin formally endorsed Cleare as his successor in a neighborhood rally — guarding against an independent challenge from one of his former staffers.

"Cordell makes us do our jobs better," Benjamin told those gathered outside the Harriet Tubman statue on West 122nd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue.

While Cleare remains the favorite in the Nov. 2 general election, she will not be unopposed. Also on the ballot will be Shana Harmongoff, formerly director of community affairs at Benjamin's senate office, who unsuccessfully vied for the party nomination in September.

Election Day is 3 weeks away here in New York City. Along with the Mayoral election there is a Special Election on November 2nd, where I am running as an Independent to be Your Neighbor and Your Voice as the next State Senator District 30. VOTE SHANA HARMONGOFF!!#Harmongoff4NY pic.twitter.com/EmISg3ZyZD
— Shana Harmongoff (@Harmongoff4NY) October 13, 2021

Harmongoff will be listed under the independent party line "Hope 4 NY," her campaign told Patch. Benjamin's endorsement of Cleare was not surprising, Harmongoff said, given their party ties.

"At the end of the day the actual election of the State Senator depends on the voice of the people," Harmongoff said in a statement.

Speakers on Thursday implicitly took aim at Harmongoff's challenge, as well as the Democratic primary set for next June, where democratic socialist Ali Dinii has already declared her candidacy.

"It’s not just our community that is under attack — our party is under attack," Cleare said. (Republican Oz Sultan will also be on the November ballot in District 30).

Cleare ticked off the list of issues she planned to tackle if elected to the State Senate, from affordable housing to public schools to empty storefronts. She also poked fun at the real-estate rebrandings that have stoked fury in Harlem in recent years.

"I’m going to continue to fight, like me and Brian fought years ago, to make sure that we are not SoHa. That we are not WeHa. And we’re not HaHa," Cleare said. "That we remain Harlem."

Others in attendance Hazel Dukes, the longtime NAACP leader and Harlem community board member, who threw her support behind Cleare.

Benjamin told the crowd he was backing Cleare for her devotion to the neighborhood, which he noticed when she stopped by his newly-opened senate office in 2017.

"You know who was the first person to come in with a list of things for me to do, day one? Cordell Cleare. Volunteering, no one paying her," Benjamin said. "Now, I believe we should give her a little compensation."