Queens Assemblyman Ron Kim, a progressive Democrat who previously vowed to defund the police, is now touting his pro-police stance as he faces a tough challenge in the June 25 Democratic primary from Yi Andy Chen and Dao Yin. Kim, who has been in Albany for a decade, finds himself in a tough spot financially, with Chen having significantly more campaign cash than him. As anti-Asian hate crimes surged, Kim promised community leaders he would enhance funding for the state police to keep communities safe.
Despite his current pro-police rhetoric, Kim’s record shows that he supported police early in his career but made a sharp turn after the death of George Floyd in 2020. He called for the immediate defunding of the NYPD and an end to qualified immunity, expressing support for defunding the police, military, and prison industrial complexes. When the Minneapolis City Council voted to defund their police, Kim praised this move as a step towards a caring society, even as it led to a wave of violent crime.
In the Assembly, Kim has supported legislation to decriminalize the possession and sale of hypodermic needles and syringes, end cash bail, and decriminalize prostitution. Critics, including Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, argue that Kim’s defund and pro-perpetrator positions have placed him on the wrong side of history. Sheinkopf believes that Kim’s controversial stances have angered constituents, leading to a challenging primary race and putting the political class at risk.
Kim has faced criticism for his changing stance on policing and public safety, with some accusing him of being on the wrong side of the issue. Despite his past calls for defunding the police, Kim now claims to support accountability while improving public safety. He highlights his efforts to increase police patrols in subways, enhance funding for hate crimes investigations, and address crimes targeting elderly New Yorkers. As he faces a tough primary challenge, Kim remains defiant in his defense of his record and positions on public safety.
Chen, who is challenging Kim in the Democratic primary, is a small business owner with a significant campaign war chest that exceeds Kim’s funding. In response to Kim’s changing stance on policing and public safety, Chen aims to highlight his own positions and solutions to address the issues facing their district. With Dao Yin also seeking the nomination, the primary race is shaping up to be a contentious battle among the Democratic candidates. As the election approaches, voters will have to weigh the candidates’ records, stances, and proposed solutions to determine who will represent their interests in the Assembly.
