Jamaal Bailey’s shaking up the Bronx Dems

Originally published in City & State on July 25, 2021.

Asked for overarching thoughts on the new delegation, Bailey focused on their records. “Every district that we have, you have people who are community-service, community-oriented first,” he said. “I think the common thread is, it’s people who have been in the community, working, doing something tangible for people before they had the aspiration to be an elected public servant.”

But none of them have been working for too long. Seven of the nine candidates elected are in their 30s. “The Bronx has swag!” Bailey said. The county leader is a sneakerhead, and he was wearing Air Jordan 11 Legend Blues at lunch. “I was joking as I went around to candidates on Election Day – everybody had on a pair of fresh sneakers! And I had a suit on. I was like, ‘Oh man, how come I can’t wear my sneakers?’” the 38-year-old Bailey said. “There’s a youthful exuberance that the borough’s leadership has in it now. And I’m excited for that being around, just to see young folks take matters into their own hands.”