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Michael Novakhov, a Republican assemblyman from Brooklyn, has been accused of being a socialist in Republican clothing after drawing attention for his left-wing positions and his history as a Democratic campaign donor.
Novakhov, who was born in the Soviet Union and previously registered as a Democrat, switched parties in August 2020, just before running for office in a deeply red district that covers parts of Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach.
Many of his constituents moved there after fleeing the former Soviet Union.
Federal Election Commission records show that Novakhov made numerous donations to Democrats, including $170 to socialist Bernie Sanders during the 2016 election cycle, but there are no such recorded donations to Republicans.
At one point, despite representing a district won by Republican Lee Zeldin, Novakhov expressed support for Democratic politicians on social media and at events, including the inauguration of New York State Governor Kathy Hochul.
Brooklyn Republican Assemblyman Michael Novakhov scored an upset victory over a longtime Democratic incumbent in the last election.
After taking office, he hired a chief of staff who is a Democratic donor and has organized fundraisers for Democratic politicians. She is seen here with Democratic Mayor Eric Adams.
Novakhov has expressed his support for Democratic politicians on social media and at events, including the inauguration of New York State Governor Hochul, pictured above.
Proud to have witnessed how Her-story was made!!! It is an honor to have been invited to join my fellow legislators and elected officials in attending the inauguration of New York’s first female governor,” she wrote.
Novakhov received endorsements from several prominent Republicans, including Lee Zeldin, Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, and Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, during his campaign against Democratic incumbent Steven Cymbrowitz.
Despite these endorsements, including from the Brooklyn Conservative Party, Novakhov’s public positions have often been far more progressive.
One of his campaign themes was “social equity,” and he criticized New York Mayor Eric Adams’ plans to remove violent homeless people from the city’s subways.
He has also been associated with several prominent socialists in the city on social media and has been seen wearing a communist-themed sweater.
He has also been associated with several prominent socialists in the city on social media and has been seen wearing a communist-themed sweater, pictured above.
Some voters in the deeply conservative district may have unknowingly chosen a liberal politician.
In addition, Novakhov has linked up with Democratic figures, including Gregory Kirsopp, whom he hired as chief of staff and who previously worked for Democratic city council members, and has expressed support for Democratic politicians on social media.
In September 2021, Kirsopp held a fundraiser on behalf of Democratic Mayor Adams.
The event, held at Club Salmagundi, required a minimum donation of $1,500.
Kirsopp, who is Novakhov’s chief of staff, expressed his honor to be able to host the fundraiser in a photo with Adams on Instagram.
Gavin Wax, chairman of the New York Young Republicans, criticized the Brooklyn GOP for supporting Novakhov, a former Democratic donor, in a heavily pro-Trump district.
Novakov only changed parties in August 2020 before running for office.
The Brooklyn Republican Party has defended its decision to include Novakhov, stating that the party must be a “big tent” to win the election.
‘Michael was born under communist rule in Soviet Russia and was able to escape to the United States to build a better life. As an American immigrant, he, like many others in his district, registered as a Democrat,” a spokeswoman for Novakhov told The New York Times. New York Post.
He made a series of small dollar donations to the Bernie Sanders campaign, subscribing, intending to see if the campaign’s message to donors differed from someone who just signed up for a newsletter.
“In 2020, after years of frustration with the Democratic party and a continued decline in representation for his district and city, Michael proudly re-registered as a Republican.”
Novakov appears on his first day in the New York State Assembly in a photo posted to his Instagram earlier this week.