This Monday, the SWC hosted a candidate forum with Eli Northrup, running for Assembly District 69, and Conrad Blackburn, running for Assembly District 70. 

Editor’s note: the author of this post is a member of the Columbia Democrats.

On Monday, February 9, the Student Workers of Columbia (SWC), in collaboration with Sunrise Columbia, the Columbia Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), the Columbia Tenant’s Union, and the Columbia Democrats, hosted Eli Northrup and Conrad Blackburn, two candidates the SWC has endorsed for their respective Assembly Districts (AD-69 and AD-70). The forum was held at Broadway Community and provided space for audience members to ask questions and learn more about the candidates. 

The candidates started with personal introductions, discussing their backgrounds and why they are interested in running for office. Neither candidate has been in elected office yet, so both made their cases as to why their novelty was valuable. Northrup, running for AD-69, which represents the University, started by stating that he does not view himself as a politician. Rather, he started as a public defender and, after spending time lobbying at the state assembly in Albany, realized that he wanted to be a part of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the New York legislative process. He promised to hold Columbia accountable as the biggest landlord in the city, promising to advocate for opening the gates, which have been closed since 2023. 

Blackburn, running for AD-70, discussed his childhood as the son of an immigrant single mother. He emphasized that he worked his way to law school, also eventually becoming a public defender and working with Northrup. As an organizer, he worked to form a union for public defenders, negotiating wage increases and better working conditions. He noted that he was openly running as a Democratic Socialist, and believed that power belongs to the people—something he would emphasize if he were to be elected. 

The candidates then took questions from audience members, ranging topics from transportation, to healthcare, to ICE and the NYPD. Both candidates were extremely anti-ICE and pro-healthcare. Additionally, both candidates highlighted their willingness to work with the mayor’s office to deliver on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s campaign promises, such as pushing for fast and free buses.

Once the Q&A ended, the forum concluded by forming organizing groups, in which attendees worked to discuss various issues they found important in the city and at Columbia, such as labor and the environment.

Photo by Columbia Democrats