Morgan Evers, who launched her primary campaign to challenge local, 16-term Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz on Dec. 7, 2025 in the 81st Assembly District, recently announced additional endorsements of her candidacy in the form of local State Senators Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), Robert Jackson (S.D. 31), and the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.

 

Evers, a teacher and disability activist, announced the news on Thursday, April 16, as she continues her campaign to win the primary against Dinowitz, who was elected to the assembly seat 32 years ago in 1994, despite prior challenges both from within his own own party and from Conservatives.

 

“Morgan is a battle-tested community leader who has stood up for Kingsbridge, Norwood and Riverdale for many years,” Rivera said. “I have seen firsthand her commitment to making life better for working families in The Bronx through public service and community organizing. I am looking forward to collaborating with her in Albany to pass the NY Health Act, protect our immigrant communities, and build more truly affordable housing in The Bronx.”

 

The senator added that he was excited to campaign with her and speak with voters about why in his opinion she is “the right choice for courageous and inclusive leadership in AD 81.”

 

For Jackson’s part, the senator said, “I’ve collaborated with Morgan over the years and have seen firsthand her dedication to The Bronx and to working families. She shows up, does the work, and leads with purpose. I’m proud to support her and confident she would make an excellent colleague.”

Reacting to news of the endorsements, Evers, who has taught for 20 years and is also a Bronx community organizer, said, “I am honored to be endorsed by Senators Rivera and Jackson, our progressive champions in the Senate. As reported, Jackson has long campaigned, among other issues, for more funding for public schools, often as part of a walking campaign from New York City to Albany. Meanwhile, Rivera, as reported, is a the longtime primary sponsor of the NY Health Act, and chair of the senate health committee.

The 81st Assembly district covers some or all of Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Van Cortlandt Village, Woodlawn, Spuyten Duyvil, Riverdale, Fieldston, and Wakefield.

 

The larger Senate District 33, represented by Rivera, broadly covers much of the same area as A.D. 81, excluding much of Kingsbridge and Kingsbridge Heights, and also includes some or all of the additional Bronx neighborhoods of Fordham Manor, Fordham Heights, Belmont, Morris Heights, Allerton, Little Yemen, Pelham Parkway, and Van Nest.

 

Meanwhile, Senate District 31, represented by Jackson, covers some or all of the northwest Bronx neighborhoods of Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham Manor, University Heights, Morris Heights, as well as Marble Hill, and Washington Heights in northern Manhattan.

 

Evers, who was previously elected as State Committeewoman for A.D. 81 in 2022, said the double endorsement follows joint petitioning efforts with both lawmakers. “After canvassing together door to door to collect more than five times the signatures I needed, I am proud to be on the ballot alongside both of my mentors,” she said. During her reelection campaign in 2024, as reported, Evers was removed from the ballot due to a typing error related to her address.

Endorsed by the New York Working Families Party, Unity Democratic Club, a club she helped found in October 2022 with a group of breakaway progressives from the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, and Eleanor’s Legacy, a Democratic organization that supports pro-choice Democratic women to run for State and local office throughout New York. The latter’s executive director is Abigail Martin, female district leader for A.D. 81 who, as reported, is running for reelection.

 

Evers’ campaign said, and as reported, she is focused on addressing the affordability crisis affecting housing, childcare, early education and the local economy. Her campaign went on to say that she is also calling for legislative action to combat threats of federal rollbacks to healthcare, immigrants rights, LGBTQ+ rights and disability protections.

 

On Monday, April 20, Evers announced she had also received the endorsement of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club. Named for the legendary gay rights pioneer Jim Owles, the club, according to its website, was formed in 2004 as a citywide political activist club with a mission to secure human rights, dignity, and freedom for all people.

 

Among their priorities, according to the club website, members call for an end of all wars, increased AIDS funding, universal health care, continued protection and expansion of reproductive rights, economic justice, and abolition of the death penalty.

“As Congressmembers Jerry Nadler [NY-12] and Nancy Pelosi [CA-11] recognized, it’s time for a new generation to serve us, and that’s why we are proud to support Morgan Evers, the clear progressive leader in this race,” said Allen Roskoff, club president. “Morgan’s uncompromised values and record as an organizer for nearly a decade make her the kind of bold, new leader we need in Albany fighting to protect the rights and freedoms of vulnerable New Yorkers, including our LGBTQ community.”

 

Evers said she was honored by what she described as “this meaningful endorsement by the Jim Owles club whose mission to secure human rights and dignity for all deeply resonates with me as a disabled woman.”

 

As reported, if elected, Evers will be the first blind woman to serve in the New York state legislature. She added, “I’m especially proud to receive the support of one of our city’s historic and prominent LGBTQ leaders, Allen Roskoff, who not only authored our nation’s first gay rights bill but serves as mentor to so many activists with his decades-long advocacy and leadership.”

 

Since kicking off the campaign, Evers’ team said she has qualified to receive the maximum public funds of $175,000 for a State assembly candidate via New York State’s public campaign finance program. The program provides candidates running for statewide or state legislative office the ability to qualify, and if found eligible, to receive “public matching funds” i.e. tax dollars at a given ratio based on the number of small campaign donations the candidates have already received from residents in the district they aim to represent.

 

It is similar, but separate, from the New York City public matching funds program. At the State level, in addition to certain other lengthy rules, the monetary threshold for eligibility for public matching funds for state assembly is not less than $6,000 of matchable contributions, including at least 75 matchable contributions from residents of the applicable assembly district, with some exceptions.

 

The program began on Nov. 9, 2022, is open to candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, State comptroller, State senate, and State assembly, and the idea, as with the City program, is to help candidates who may not otherwise have the financial means to run for office. (Thresholds vary for different State offices.) It thereby facilitates a broader range of candidates for voters to choose from, whereas in the past, only those candidates with access to sufficient disposable income could put themselves forward.

 

Evers’ campaign added that since launching her campaign in December 2025, she is one of only five assembly candidates who maxed out on the matching funds program this period, having raised more than $37,000 to date from 306 donors, of which, her campaign team said, 76% were in-district contributions.

New York State Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 23. Voters should note the following key dates:

The change of address deadline so you can vote at the correct polling location is Monday, June 8. The voter registration deadline is Saturday, June 13. The mail ballot request deadline (requested online or by mail) is Saturday, June 13. Early voting begins Saturday, June 13.

 

The in-person mail ballot request deadline is Monday, June 22. The mail ballot postmark deadline is Tuesday, June 23. Only voters enrolled in a political party can vote in that party’s primary. The mail ballot receipt deadline is Tuesday, June 30, meaning this is the last day by which the Board of Elections can receive your mail ballot and have it counted.