Shaniyat Chowdhury, 5th Congressional District Democratic primary

Shaniyat Chowdhury

Democrat

Background: Shaniyat Chowdhury, 28 of South Jamaica, is a veteran of the U.S. Marines and a community organizer. Chowdhury is a member of the South Jamaica Resident Green Committee, an environmental community group in his public housing development. He worked on the 2018 campaign of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx), and served as a legislative intern in the New York State Assembly. Chowdhury is a graduate of John Jay College, where he received a Bachelor's degree in law and society.

Issues: 

Chowdhury would advocate for increased affordable housing for Long Islanders; back the Green New Deal, a sweeping effort to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in 10 years; reforms to the criminal justice system to reverse racial inequalities; and a universal basic income. Chowdhury also vowed to advocate for free public college tuition, supports abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and backs statehood for Puerto Rico.

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com@ScottEidler

Scott Eidler is a deputy editor for the towns department at Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.