The Race Is On: Eli Northrup Post Big Fundraising Haul For UWS Seat

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The race is officially on to represent the Upper West Side and Morningside Heights in the State Assembly.

Just a day after candidate Micah Lasher announced a massive haul far ahead of three other candidates' campaign filings — with $200,000-plus raised — another contender for the open Assembly District 69 seat himself showed a major fundraising stash.

Public defender Eli Northrup announced Friday that his campaign has raised a total $190,000 so far in the race, with $88,000 of that expected to be matched by public campaign funds.

In just contributions, his campaign says Northrup has raised more than $102,000, adding that 75 percent of his in-district donations were small-dollar contributions of $100 or less.

“I am humbled and inspired by the incredible outpouring of support our campaign has received,” said Northrup. “These donations are a clear testament to the grassroots strength that fuels our movement, and as a public defender and now an assembly candidate, I've always believed in the power of community and the importance of every single voice."

As of Friday afternoon, Northrup's campaign filing was not yet uploaded in the state Board Of Election site, meaning that Patch was unable to independently verify the filing, or review top contributors.

There are currently five candidates in the race to replace outgoing Assembly Member Danny O'Donnell in District 69 — a district that covers West 80th to West 125th streets and includes swarths of Central and Riverside parks.

Northrup's announcement means that Lasher, who posted a haul of over $230,000 on Thursday, now has a close competitor when it comes to the money race, with only roughly $40,000 separating the two.

"This campaign is powered by the people, and I am deeply grateful for every contribution that helps us move one step closer to our collective vision for change," Northrup said in his announcement.

While Northrup, a public defender and political newcomer, can't boast the long list of Democratic establishment endorsements who have signed on to Lasher's campaign — including Reps. Jerry Nadler and Adriano Espaillat, City Comptroller Brad Lander, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and many other current and former local elected officials — he does come with a level of progressives endorsements to match his people-power campaign.

In March, New York Working Families Party, Sunrise Movement NYC, Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, Assemblymember Anna Kelles, and Assembly Member Latrice Walker announced that they were endorsing Northrup's run.

"I'm new to politics," Northrup said in a campaign video, "but representing people is what I've done my entire career."

Northrup works as a policy director at the Bronx Defenders and has led efforts in cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform, his website states.

Prior to that, Northrup clerked for judges on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the Southern District of New York.

To learn more about Northrup, click here for his website.