A look at key endorsements in crowded NY-10 Democratic congressional primary

One thing’s for sure about next week’s Democratic primary in NY-10: it’s a wide-open race.

There’s no incumbent in the newly created 10th Congressional District spanning lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, and at least six candidates are considered legitimate contenders.

Turnout is expected to be anemic given the unusual late August election day and the lack of heavyweight names in the race.

With even a few thousand votes determining the winner, there’s an extraordinary premium on endorsements from bigger political names who may be able to give their chosen candidates a critical boost.

The progressive city council member is a proven vote-winner in her lower East Side base.

Her biggest endorsement by far is from Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), who up to now has represented most of the Brooklyn part of the district until redistricting shifted the lines.

[ Carlina Rivera endorsed by Rep. Nydia Velazaquez in NY-10 primary ]

Rivera also has the support of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

She also has the backing of 22 of her City Council colleagues, far outpacing her rivals in support from that body.

Niou has the backing of progressive groups like the Working Families Party and the Sunrise Movement.

The state assemblywoman representing lower Manhattan also boasts the endorsement of New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who recently lost his statewide primary against Gov. Hochul, as well as actress Cynthia Nixon, who unsuccessfully sought to unseat Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2018.

[ NY-10 debate centers on transit — and the Knicks ]

Niou has won the support of five assembly colleagues and three state senators, including well-known Brooklyn progressives Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Bushwick) and Sen. Jabari Brisport (D-Bed-Stuy).

The former federal prosecutor is best known for his role as counsel to the Democratic House effort to impeach former President Donald Trump and was not widely known to have political ambitions until he jumped into the NY-10 race.

He won the endorsement of the New York Times editorial board last week, boosting his profile in the crowded race.

Other key endorsements include city councilmember Simcha Eichenstein (D-Borough Park), signaling he aims to grab the significant Jewish vote in the district.

[ Goldman scoops key backing of Sen. Brad Hoylman ]

He bagged the coveted backing of state Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Greenwich Village), a leader in the LGBTQ community along with Grace Lee, who won the Democratic primary to succeed Niou in her Chinatown assembly district.

Jones moved from Westchester County to Brooklyn in order to run in the newly created NY-10 after a scrap with fellow Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) over a district in the northern New York suburbs.

[ Mondaire Jones plays down newcomer status in NY-10 race ]

He has won endorsements from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) along with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), along with six House colleagues.

Jones also won the backing of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Progressive Caucus.

Simon has represented a large chunk of the Brooklyn portion of the district in the state assembly for years.

She has won the endorsement of five colleagues in the assembly, including Deborah Glick, a trailblazing lesbian lawmaker from lower Manhattan, as well as state Sen. Roxanne Persaud.

Holtzman probably has the strongest name recognition of any candidate in the race.

Now 81, she was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress a half-century ago and has won elections as Brooklyn District Attorney and New York City Controller.

Her endorsements include feminist icons Gloria Steinem and Barbra Streisand and former Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger.

[ Go for Liz: Daily News makes its choice in NY-10 ]

Holtzman also won the backing of the Daily News editorial board, which said “her age has given her a sense of urgency to do big things for her constituents and her country.