Bobilin Planning Another Run For UES Assembly Seat

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Patrick Bobilin is running again for State Assembly on the Upper East Side, after his previous run for the seat in 2020 ended with him being removed from the ballot.

"Elected officials, without an incentive, are not here to save us," Bobilin wrote in an email on Friday, previewing his run against incumbent Rebecca Seawright. "We have to fix the problems we want solved in our communities, in every part of this city and state."

Bobilin, 38, is a progressive activist whose work in the neighborhood has included helping to found the UES Mutual Aid Network and UES For Black Lives Matter.

His run sets up a Democratic primary fight against Seawright, who since 2015 has held the 76th District seat that covers Yorkville and Roosevelt Island.

In 2020, Bobilin mounted an independent bid against Seawright, who was herself running as an independent after being booted from the Democratic ticket due to a filing error. Her campaign mounted a legal battle against Bobilin, arguing that he failed to meet the state's five-year residency requirement since he only settled permanently in the neighborhood in 2016.

Though a lower court judge sided with Bobilin, an appeals court ruled against him on appeal, forcing him to drop out of the race as voting had already begun.

Testing is key to helping Roosevelt Islanders have a safe, happy and healthy holiday season! Pleased to help secure a mobile testing unit on RI through Dec 31. pic.twitter.com/Ln1KZlZvnJ
— Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright (@SeawrightForNY) December 13, 2021

Now halfway through her fourth term, Seawright remains an active presence in the neighborhood, recently touting her work to preserve the honors math program at Robert F. Wagner Middle School and open a COVID-19 testing van on Roosevelt Island.

Last summer, as allegations of sexual harassment mounted against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Seawright was one of the only Manhattan legislators who did not call on him to resign — prompting Bobilin to organize a protest outside her office.

Bobilin's not-yet-released platform will include repealing the state's open container laws — a move that he says would benefit restaurants and remove "a cudgel against marginalized people."

This year's Democratic primary will be held on June 28. Another competitive Assembly race will be happening in the neighborhood's other Assembly district: the 73rd, where incumbent Dan Quart is not running for re-election.

Related coverage from Patch:

• Challenger Drops Out Of UES Assembly Race With Voting Underway
• Upper East Side Assembly Race Turns Turbulent: What To Know