With all of the controversy swirling round New York Metropolis elections in 2025, it’s simple to overlook that Manhattan District Lawyer (DA) Alvin Bragg is operating to maintain his place. He’s taken on some high-profile circumstances whereas in workplace, together with newly minted President Donald Trump.
“District Lawyer Bragg understands that security and justice require funding in our youth and communities to stop violence and crime earlier than it occurs and break the cycle of trauma,” mentioned Rebecca Fischer, government director of New Yorkers In opposition to Gun Violence, who not too long ago endorsed Bragg’s re-election marketing campaign. “Empowering our younger folks via management and engagement in their very own communities is an evidenced-based method to decreasing gun violence.”
Bragg received his first time period in workplace in 2021, keeping off nearly 10 candidates trying to exchange former DA Cy Vance within the main. He’s the primary Black particular person to serve within the position, and has confronted a deluge of conservative criticism for being a extra progressive determine when it got here to crime discount and combating gun violence. He referred to his method as “restorative justice,” which has been examined through the years.
For example, Bragg’s workplace prosecuted Daniel Penny for the dying of unhoused Black New Yorker Jordan Neely in 2023, however didn’t convict. Penny was discovered not responsible of negligent murder, regardless of Bragg pointing to proof from “medical data, movies, bodycam footage, and testimony from [more than] 30 witnesses.”
Throughout his time period, Bragg elevated assets for gun trafficking enforcement, launched the Gun Violence Prevention Group Initiative to strengthen neighborhood bonds amongst Manhattan youth, partnered with Mayor Eric Adams to combat in opposition to the scourge of “ghost gun” firearms, labored on state laws to make the manufacture of 3D-printed weapons and gun components unlawful, and satisfied YouTube to cease internet hosting ghost gun tutorials that focused children. Bragg’s marketing campaign additionally mentioned he has elevated the variety of gun circumstances that his workplace pursues, in addition to invested in gun prevention and gun buyback occasions, decreasing shootings in Manhattan by 45% since he took workplace.
In accordance with NYPD’s crime knowledge, Manhattan capturing incidents and deaths are down within the borough in comparison with final 12 months. Nevertheless, different points, like rape or crime in public housing developments, are up.
Bragg has the backing of the Harlem neighborhood from which he hails, in addition to anti-violence advocates reminiscent of Jackie Rowe-Adams, founding father of Harlem Moms & Fathers S.A.V.E.; Nick Suplina, senior vice chairman of regulation and coverage at Everytown for Gun Security; and Hudson Munoz, government director of Weapons Down America.
“Each capturing shatters a number of lives, however we are able to finish the terrible tragedy of gun violence by electing leaders like Alvin Bragg who’ve the imaginative and prescient and work ethic to deliver actual change in our neighborhoods,” mentioned Rowe-Adams in a press release. “Alvin takes the time to take heed to our experiences and personally understands the influence of gun violence on our neighborhood. There may be loads of loud partisan, ideological noise on the market all too wanting to distort, smear, and lie about Alvin Bragg for their very own political motives, however don’t be fooled as a result of information are information: Alvin Bragg is making Manhattan safer in opposition to lethal gun violence each single day. Together with his imaginative and prescient, dedication, and management, Manhattan can count on total crime and gun violence to go down even additional in Alvin’s second time period.”
Bragg has beforehand been endorsed by Congressmembers Adriano Espaillat, Jerry Nadler, and Dan Goldman,; former Manhattan Borough Presidents Ruth Messinger, C. Virginia Fields, and Gale Brewer; and the West Facet Democratic Membership, Downtown Impartial Democratic Membership, Martin Luther King, Jr. Membership, Tioga Carver Democratic Membership, Village Impartial Democrats, Uptown Democratic Membership, and Grand Avenue Democrats.
“I’m honored to obtain the help of this honored group of distinguished leaders,” mentioned Bragg in a press release. “With readability of objective and steadfast dedication to others, they’ve devoted themselves to stopping gun violence and saving lives — and I’m proud to earn their help.”
Each Bragg and his colleague, Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez, are up for reelection this 12 months in a race that doesn’t use ranked selection voting (RCV) to find out a winner.
In Manhattan, DAs are inclined to get re-elected and sometimes spend a number of phrases in workplace. Because the Thirties, there have been solely 5 elected DAs. The development could maintain true this 12 months, contemplating Bragg has just about no actual challengers from Democrats or Republicans.
