When Robert Jackson first got elected to the state Senate in 2018, his signature issue was restoring state funding to schools that had never been paid, despite a court victory by the group known as Campaign for Fiscal Equity.

After literally walking 150 miles to Albany from New York city to draw attention to the issue, a funding deal was announced last year worth billions of dollars in public money.

“That money is due to our children. Not only in New York City but New York State. And it was just a matter of fighting and making sure we had a Democratic majority in the New York state Senate in order to get it done,” Jackson said.

What You Need To Know

  • State Sen. Robert Jackson faces tough primary in four-way race later this month

  • Washington Heights power broker Rep. Adriano Espaillat is supporting first time candidate Angel Vasquez

  • The district includes Washington Heights and a portion of the West Bronx

But Jackson is facing a primary in the newly drawn 31st state Senate district, which is now 65% Latino. Angel Vasquez says it’s his job to represent the Dominican community.

“There is a sense that, particularly in the Dominican community, they want to be represented. We are one million strong in the city of New York. We don’t have a single state Senator in the New York state Senate and it is important for the Dominican community to have a seat at the table,” Vasquez said.

Vasquez once worked for former state Sen. Marisol Alcantara, who was a member of the Republican-aligned Independent Democratic Conference or IDC.

The IDC was dissolved in 2018, and the majority of its members were defeated in primaries later that year, Including Alcantara, who was defeated by Jackson.

“Yes, I did serve Marisol Alcantara as her chief of staff. But it was because it was an opportunity for me to put that academic experience to professional work. And not just to do it anywhere but to do it in my community. The place where I was raised in Washington Heights,” Vasquez said.

Vasquez is also hoping to be the first openly gay Latino state Senator. And he has the backing of Upper Manhattan powerbroker, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who has a sound record of backing Dominican candidates who reflect his own background.

Jackson questions Espaillat’s involvement in the race.

“I guess that’s the million dollar question you need to ask him. But I say to you when you go back and look at it. He supported Marisol when she joined the IDC. They want me out. Because they see me as one person in northern Manhattan that can challenge Adriano. And Adriano does not own upper Manhattan. It’s to the people that own it,” Jackson says.

Also running is Francesca Castellanos, who ran for City Council last year, and made this video calling for the city to establish recall elections, much like they have in California.

“We also need to amend the city charter to allow recall of all elected officials. From the mayor, to judges, to your City Council to your district leaders,” Castellanos said.

Rounding out the race is Ruben Dario Vargas, who has also run for other offices in Washington Heights before. The primary is Aug. 23, and early voting begins on the Aug. 13.