By Radwan Farraj
State Senator Kevin S. Parker was announced the winner of the Aug. 23 democratic primary, winning his reelection bid for Brooklyn’s State Senate District 21, which includes the Flatbush and Midwood area where Brooklyn College is located.
Running against Kevin Parker was David Alexis, a resident of East Flatbush that represents the Working Families Party, and Kaegan Mays-Williams, a former Assistant District Attorney and member of Everytown for Gun Safety, where she helps advocate for communities prone to gun violence.
Parker, who has held office since January 2003, won reelection with an 8.2% lead in votes against Alexis. He is currently the Chairman of Committee on Energy and Telecommunications in New York’s Senate. Parker’s endorsements include Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the New York District Council of Carpenters Joseph Geiger, NYC Mayor Eric Adams, and others.
“While Parker returns to Albany to fight on behalf of corporations, we will continue to fight to unite SD21 [Senate District 21] and represent the needs of the working families,” Alexis posted in a statement on his campaign’s Facebook account the day after the primary.
Mays-Williams, who lost the primary with 16.2% of total votes, posted a statement on her campaign website two days after the primary. She stated that although the electorate chose Parker to represent Senate District 21 again, she hopes that he will be more accessible to the communities he represents.
“I am also deeply proud of this 100% grassroots campaign – the only one in this race without any institutional backing. This was a coalition built by neighbors,” Mays-Williams stated. She did not indicate if she would run again.
Parker and Alexis did not respond to the Vanguard’s requests for comment. Mays-Williams did not provide a comment in time for publication.
The general election for senators is set for Tuesday, Nov. 8.