Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders today offered his backing in a closely watched Central New York race for a state legislature seat.

Sanders endorsed Maurice “Mo” Brown, an Onondaga County legislator running in a Democratic primary to unseat Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli in New York’s 129th District.

Brown got his start in politics working on Sanders’ presidential campaign in 2015 and 2016. Like Sanders, Brown is a Democratic Socialist.

Brown was among 61 candidates Sanders endorsed in down-ballot races across the country. Sanders picked 15 candidates in New York Assembly races, more than any other state.

In an interview with the New York Times, Sanders said he’s hoping to build a lasting movement against “Trump’s authoritarianism,” while also offering an alternative to the “Democratic establishment.”

”What we are trying to do is build a grass-roots, multiracial, working-class party that will stand up to the oligarchs,” he told the Times.

In a press release, Brown said Sanders’ campaign introduced him to the idea that government should work for people.

“This race has always been about whether we are willing to build a Democratic Party that actually meets the scale of the challenges people face every day,” Brown said.

Many local labor unions and Democratic officials have endorsed Magnarelli, including U.S. Rep. John Mannion, state Sen. Chris Ryan, and Assemblymembers Pam Hunter and Al Stirpe.

Mayor Sharon Owens, a Democrat, said she doesn’t plan to endorse in the primary.

The election is Tuesday, June 23. Early voting begins Saturday, June 13.

You can read more about the race, the issues, the money and who is backing who in this May 5 story from reporter Mark Weiner.