Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn will not seek another term as head of the Kings County Democratic Party, ending more than six years in one of the most influential positions in Brooklyn Democratic politics.
Bichotte Hermelyn announced her decision on September 28 during an interview with NY1, saying she was ready to move on to the next chapter of her life. “I’m now up to my next chapter in life,” she said, while describing the party as stronger and more inclusive after her tenure.
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Bichotte Hermelyn made history in 2020 when she became the first woman and first Black woman to chair the Brooklyn Democratic Party. During her tenure, the party expanded its judicial screening panel and nominated dozens of candidates for judicial office, including more than 40 judges between 2024 and 2026, according to the party.
Her departure comes amid an intense internal battle over control of the party. Reform-minded district leaders won a majority of Brooklyn’s district leader seats in the June Democratic primary and backed Julio Peña III as a candidate to replace her.
The dispute intensified after Bichotte Hermelyn and her allies sought to expand the party’s executive committee from 42 members to roughly 100. Supporters described the changes as an effort to make party leadership more inclusive, while reformers challenged the move in court, arguing that outgoing party leaders did not have authority to approve the amendments after the June primary.
On September 29, a Brooklyn appellate court rejected the rule changes, affirming that the amendments were invalid. The ruling came as party factions prepared for a vote to select Bichotte Hermelyn’s successor. A Brooklyn judge later granted a temporary restraining order blocking the scheduled executive committee meeting, further delaying the leadership election.
Bichotte Hermelyn has not ruled out remaining involved in Brooklyn Democratic Party leadership in another capacity. Several candidates have been discussed as potential successors, including Assembly Members Nikki Lucas, Kalman Yeger and Jamie Williams, and State Senator Roxanne Persaud. Lucas formally announced her candidacy on September 29.
The leadership transition comes as Brooklyn Democrats continue to debate the future direction and structure of the county party. With the court challenges still affecting the succession process, the timing and mechanism for choosing Bichotte Hermelyn’s successor remain unsettled.
