When it comes to competitive elections, the final days of a campaign can sometimes bring out the worst in politics. But that rarely happens among members of the same party in a general election.

For a tight City Council race in southern Brooklyn, the fighting has pinned Democrat against Democrat.

What You Need To Know

  • Incumbent City Councilman Justin Brannan is facing a second opponent in his race; his party boss, Kings County Committee Chair Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn

  • The dispute centers on allegations that Brannan harassed a former City Council aide. Allegations Brannan denies

  • Bichotte-Hermelyn has seized on the scandal to call out her colleague and call for accountability in her party

  • Brannan is facing a tight election for the redrawn 47th Council District that now encompasses Bay Ridge and Coney Island, against Republican Ari Kagan

In the face of allegations of bullying against incumbent City Councilman Justin Brannan, County Boss Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn called out her colleague.

“When people started seeing this story they were shocked they called me, emailed, and I had to make a statement because I stand with people with disability. I understand how it is not to be in a work place that is safe. I’ve been harassed and this triggered me,” Bichotte-Hermelyn said at a cafe in her district on Wednesday.  

The unexpected denouncement of Brannan comes with less than a week until election day, where he is facing off against Republican Councilman Ari Kagan.

“I don’t know what their problem is. I assume it’s because they expect 100% loyalty from me and the only 100% loyalty I give is to my constituents,” Brannan said Wednesday after an endorsement event with a local fire fighter union.  

“The county boss wants to kill the SHSAT. I don’t. The county boss wants to set up migrant camps in parks. I don’t. The county boss wants to defund the police, I don’t. I don’t stand with her on the issues she wants me to stand with her on,” he added.  

The feud seems to have been sparked when Bichotte-Hermelyn called on other districts to take in some migrants. One of the neighborhoods she called on was Bay Ridge, part of Brannan’s district.

“I’ve been talking for months about equity in terms of shelter in our district and how different neighborhoods should share the wealth of the shelters. And Justin Brannan came out very upset at me for bringing the topic because it was inconvenient for him,” Bichotte-Hermelyn said.

Brannan says he’s tried to speak with his county leader several times.

“I’ve reached out to the county leader a couple of times. No response, no answer, nothing. She seems to want to communicate through tweets and through the press. That’s fine. It’s just a distraction,” Brannan said. “He did try to reach out a couple of times but we have not spoken,” Bichotte-Hermelyn said. “I’m a survivor of abuse and harassment. Sometimes you make a decision that it may not be good to get into an argument with someone.”

A group of district leaders came out in support of Brannan on Wednesday and called on the county organization to back the incumbent.

Bichotte-Hermelyn said the party is supporting Brannan.

“We have our Brooklyn Young Dems who are supporting. We have a number of leaders, they’re all part of county. I physically can’t be everywhere at the same time,” she said. “At the same time, I would hope that Justin Brannan would apologize to me for making these horrible accusations and blasting me in the Post about the migrant crisis.”

Brannan said he’s still waiting on the party to help out.

“I mean, there were conversations about it. And they said they were going to send people and help out, but they never did,” said Brannan.

Brannan has denied the accusations against him and said he plans to sue the former aide for slander.

The general election will take place on Nov. 7.