Gloria Steinem endorses Liz Holtzman in crowded race for NYC’s 10th Congressional District
Feminist icon Gloria Steinem is throwing her weight behind Elizabeth Holtzman in the crowded Democratic primary for New York’s 10th Congressional District — giving the veteran stateswoman her first major campaign endorsement a few weeks before voters head to the polls.
Steinem, a writer and activist known as a leading voice in the women’s and civil rights movements, said Wednesday she’s endorsing Holtzman because of her trailblazing career as a congresswoman, New York City comptroller and Brooklyn district attorney in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.
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“Liz Holtzman has always been among the first and the bravest in our history, the smartest and the most trusted,” Steinem said in a statement to the Daily News. “Now, she is the one and only candidate in this race who has created enduring structures to advance justice, including the bipartisan Congressional Women’s Caucus.”
Steinem added: “This country, not just New York City, must benefit from Liz’s leadership.”
Gloria Steinem participates in a press conference outside Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, in New York, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (Richard Drew/)
Holtzman, 80, worked alongside Steinem on various issues during her time in Congress between 1973 and 1981, including pushing through legislation that extended the deadline by which states could ratify the equal rights amendment.
Decades later, Holtzman said Steinem’s continued support sends a powerful message in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent reversal of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling on abortions rights.
“We have a Supreme Court that is hellbent on destroying women’s rights,” Holtzman said. “Gloria’s support for me is a strong indication for the people of this district that I am a fighter for their cause. It gives them confidence in the principles that I stand for, and what I’m going to fight for because Gloria knows I have done that for decades. Gloria knows I’m ready to take on anybody and anything.”
Former Congresswoman Elizabeth Holtzman speaks at a protest in 2019. (Shawn Inglima/)
The new 10th District spans a chunk of western Brooklyn, including Park Slope, as well as most of downtown Manhattan.
Despite Steinem’s support, Holtzman has her final weeks of campaign work cut out for her before voters cast ballots Aug. 23.
Many of the other big-name candidates in the race are prolific fund-raisers and have racked up long lists of endorsements from other politicians and labor groups.
Leading supporters of the Equal Rights Amendment march in Washington on Sunday, July 9, 1978. From left: Gloria Steinem, Dick Gregory, Betty Friedan and Rep. Elizabeth Holtzman, D-N.Y.. (DENNIS COOK/)
The other hopefuls include former Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-Westchester, Rockland), City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera (D-Manhattan), former Trump impeachment counsel Dan Goldman and Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou (D-Manhattan).
Holtzman, who hasn’t been in elected office since 1993, acknowledged name recognition has been a struggle for her on the campaign trail. “I’m just trying to make sure people know who I am,” she said.
