With the June 25 New York primaries just three months away, incumbent Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is just now learning of a new Democratic opponent. It marks her first primary opponent since 2020, and his name is Marty Dolan. Here’s everything you need to know about him ahead of the primaries!
Who Is Marty Dolan?
Martin W. Dolan, 66, is a strategist, investor, and financial advisor who worked for Jefferies Financial Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley, among other companies, for more than 30 years.
His father is an Argentinian immigrant who owned a medical practice in Irvington, NY – a small village in Westchester County, where Dolan was born and raised. He describes himself as ‘an avid competitive golfer, film writer, restorer of old homes, and a lifelong baseball and Grateful Dead fan!’
Initially Ran For 16th Congressional District
In October, Dolan announced his plan to run against Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New York’s 16th congressional district (northern Bronx and southern Westchester County).
“The constituents of New York’s 16th district deserve representation that prioritizes their needs and values. I am committed to restoring faith in government institutions by ushering in a new era of transparency, accountability, and unwavering dedication to public service. Together, we can build a stronger, more connected community,” he said at the time.
Confronted Rep. Jamaal Bowman Last Month
On Feb. 21, Dolan made headlines when he confronted his opponent at the Yonkers Third Precinct Community Council meeting. Dolan criticized him for once putting a fugitive convicted cop killer on a Bronx middle school’s “Wall of Honor” while he was a high school teacher.
According to the New York Post, the fugitive in question was Joanne Chesimard (also known as Assata Shakur), and she was convicted of the execution-style slaying of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973. She fled to Cuba and has been there ever since.
Switches Campaign To 14th Congressional District
In December, Westchester County Executive George Latimer entered the race against Bowman. Latimer received an influx of endorsements and campaign cash, which caused Dolan to rethink his strategy – and that’s when he set his eyes on the 14th congressional district.
District 14 primarily consists of the eastern part of The Bronx and part of north-central Queens. The district is packed full of Democrats, so the winner of the Democratic primary is almost guaranteed a win – in fact, the district hasn’t had a Republican Rep. since 1993.
Dolan Will Face Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez In June
With the district switch, Marty Dolan will now face the beloved, yet often controversial AOC. She was elected to the district in 2018 and took office in January 2019 – succeeding Joe Crowley, who had been in that role since 2013.
She was challenged by Michelle Caruso-Cabrera in the 2020 Democratic primary, but AOC won with 74.6% of the votes. She went on to beat John Cummings in the 2020 election with 71.6% of the votes. AOC was unopposed in the 2022 primary and went on to beat Tina Forte with 70.6% of the votes.
What Is The So-Called ‘Squad?‘
AOC is a member of the so-called ‘Squad’ – a group of eight non-white Democratic Reps. It was formed in 2018 when AOC (New York), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts), and Rashida Tlaib (Michigan) were each elected to the House.
Since then, four others have joined the group – Jamaal Bowman (New York) and Cori Bush (Missouri) in 2020, and Greg Casar (Texas) and Summer Lee (Pennsylvania) in 2022. They’re known for their progressive views, but Marty Dolan is ready for change.
Dolan Criticizes AOC’s ‘Radical Policies‘
Dolan announced his run for the 14th congressional district on March 12. In his statement, he criticized AOC for what he describes as ‘Radical policies’ and asked the district a question: “Are we better or worse off from following Radical policies?”
While he believes in the ‘progress’ implied by the word ‘Progressive,’ he also believes AOC might be too far-left for New York City. “Within the Progressive movement, there are Radicals whose influence on the Democratic Party is overweight,” he wrote.
Enough Is Enough
Dolan outlined several issues stemming from the so-called Radical policies, including bail reform, the subway, toothpaste being locked up in stores but criminals running free, scarce resources, and preferred treatment to immigrants.
“The Radicals can’t deliver more than breadcrumbs when they ignore that the primary breadwinners are leaving and brush off taxpayer concerns in favor of abstract populist ideologies. Enough is enough,” he added.
Hamilton Plan v. 2.0
Dolan also called for New York City to ‘reset’ income equality and ‘harmonize regional differences in social policy’ – an approach he’s dubbing the ‘Hamilton Plan v. 2.0’ in honor of Alexander Hamilton, whom he describes as one of the greatest New Yorkers of all time.
“New Yorkers have seen it all, including scams like the Radicals offer. But we know better that New Yorkers want NYC to be the best city in the best country in the world,” he wrote in his announcement – adding that he also wants to focus on the tax rate and gaining more taxpayers (not losing them).
Dolan Also Mentions ‘E Pluribus Unum‘
Furthering his salute to the Founding Fathers, Marty Dolan mentioned an old Latin saying – “E pluribus unum,” which stands for ‘Out of many, one.’ He wants this to represent the new wave of Democratic Reps in New York City – a wave that sticks together.
“Our founders left us the blueprint,” he wrote. “We have just drifted off course. Let us move forward together as one people. Let us not wait another two years for the same result. Let us reset on June 25th. It is the honor of a lifetime to ask to represent you in this mission.”
Does Dolan Have The Cash To Keep Up?
Marty Dolan is attempting quite the hail mary attempt in New York’s 14th congressional district. Not only does AOC come with a lot of support, but she currently has $5.7 million in campaign cash to spend – as opposed to Dolan, who has just $58,000.
And of that $58,000, $55,000 is coming from loans made by Dolan. He’ll have to gain support the organic way, but if he can, then he’ll have a prime shot at winning the election come November – especially with Democrats outnumbering Republicans 8 to 1 in the district.
Dolan Speaks With Bloomberg News
In an interview with Bloomberg News, Dolan accused AOC of favoring immigration while watching taxpayers leave for Florida – alluding to the 500,000 New Yorkers who left for Florida over the past few years.
But even those still in New York City are allegedly growing tired of AOC’s lack of track record. “There’s a lot of people who, even in Queens and the Bronx, think, ‘What has she done for us?'” Dolan said. The primary is on June 25 – whoever wins will likely earn the seat in November.
