Lauren Ashcraft has filed to run against incumbent Carolyn Maloney. (Lauren Ashcraft)
April 24, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
A JPMorgan Chase project manager and stand-up comedian is set to run against long-sitting Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney in the 2020 primaries.
Lauren Ashcraft, 30, has filed to run against Maloney, who currently represents New York’s 12th Congressional District, which covers Greenpoint, Long Island City, Astoria, and a portion of Manhattan’s East Side. The race will be Ashcraft’s first foray into politics.
Maloney has served as the district’s Congresswoman since 1993, but last June, faced one of the most competitive primaries she had seen in years, defeating her opponent Suraj Patel by 19 percent—a significant drop from the 80 percent margin Maloney had in 2016. Patel has since said he will consider running again.
Ashcraft, a Pennsylvania transplant and current Manhattan resident, works as a project manager at JPMorgan where she helps the company ensure they are complying with bank regulations. On the side, she performs stand up comedy and is the founder of the Collection Box Comedy show. The free show is held at different locations throughout the city with the goal of collecting donations for a variety of social issues, including the Flint water crisis and Puerto Rico relief efforts.
Ashcraft identifies as a progressive democrat and says she will advocate for issues including Medicare for all, disability access to subways, tighter financial sector regulations, marijuana legalization and mandatory paid parental leave.
“We are the only first world country with no paid parental leave by law,” Ashcraft said during a speech at the 2019 Women’s March. “Which means that women often must choose between their careers and family, or they simply don’t get paid while recovering from childbirth.”
While Maloney shares many similar views, newcomer Ashcraft differentiates herself by pledging to not take any money from corporate political action committees, while Maloney has historically accepted PAC dollars.
Maloney could not be reached for comment by the time of publication.
The general election will be held in November 2020. A primary date will take place in June 2020.
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16 Comments
To accept PAC money or not? That question has become another purity litmus test question for the far left, but not so for the GOP. Aren’t Democrats taking the risk of limiting their campaign tactic options by insisting their candidates reject PAC money, especially in the era of Citizens United? Do you really think Trump and the GOP won’t take PAC money for their re-election campaigns?
Maloney has been a good Congressperson and earned her seniority status in the Democratic Party. She continues to be a strong champion for women and for all New Yorkers, and is one of the strongest voices in Congress with in-depth experience. She’s still battling for passage of the ERA and Nadler is going to hold the first hearing on it in 38 years. Elections matter, and she deserves another term.
That doesn’t mean she can’t be primaried. But I hope primary voters will consider her experience and record, not just whether she accepts PAC money.
Riding the “progressive “ bandwagon. Does she believe that the government should pay people who don’t want to work like Cortez?
Uhhh, Medicaire for all? Sure, I am for everything free for everyone, but who and how is it going to be paid for? People are leaving states that are higher in taxes. I don’t want to pay more taxes. Mahoney – baloney. Next.
Well said Gabe, we should certainly get rid of socialist Medicare. In America you look out for yourself!
I’m eager to see what her platform will be.
As for some of these comments:
“She’s from Pennsylvania” – yeah, so? 2/3rds of the current LIC population didn’t grow up here.
“She works for JP Morgan.” Again, so? It sounds like a good paying job, she must be pretty motivated if she wants to leave it to get into the very dirty, temporary world of politics.
Like I said, I’m eager to learn more about her. After literally decades of Maloney, we need someone in office who understands the current world we live in and cares about leaving it a better place. She’s going to have to retire sooner or later, so we may as well get the hell on with finding a replacement. Preferably someone who rides the subway and knows how to use a smartphone.
She’s joking right?
Joking? That’s what Crowley thought about AOC. Get out and vote in the primary LIC or you might just get a stand-up comic — or a bartender like we did in the Gardens — for your next Congressperson.
Maybe regurgitate some fresher petty insults?
My mistake. I don’t watch Fox. She was a bartender AND a waitress. Sources: AOC herself AND Wikipedia.
Ain’t nothing wrong with being a bartender and a waitress. Or a comedian either. If that’s an insult, then your skin is too thin. Better stay out of politics, cause it’s a rough arena.
She worked 2 jobs to help her mother after her father died of cancer…
“Ashcraft, a Pennsylvania transplant and current Manhattan resident, works as a project manager at JPMorgan”. WTF??? Is this the best my party can offer? WTF???
Yes
Ah yes a transplant and progressive?? Yeah just in it for the pension .
Is that irony?
One of Jason dimond’s minions. A champagne socialist that wont be getting nothing from chase other than a 401k Banks don’t hand out defined benefits no more . A progressive who has no idea how to pay for freebies??