Brooklyn Sen. Myrie, mulling mayoral run, addresses Harlem church

Brooklyn State Sen. Zellnor Myrie on Sunday delivered an impassioned speech at a historic Harlem church 10 miles away from his district, adding fuel to speculation he’s gearing up to run for mayor in 2025.

“We are at a perilous time, and all of us have a responsibility to save our democracy,” Myrie told a packed Abyssinian Baptist Church, one of the oldest and most influential Black Baptist churches in the nation.

Myrie, 37, who represents parts of central Brooklyn, was referencing New York’s John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, which was signed into law in 2022, adding voting protections for members of protected classes, such as Black and Latino voters. It also provides assistance for voters who are "language minorities," those whose first language is not English, and allows those claiming voter intimidation to file lawsuits in civil court.

“Right here in New York, they move polling sites outside of the places for us. Right here in New York, they make fake phone calls telling us not to vote under the protection of the law,” Myrie said, as some in the pews called out in agreement. “But not anymore.”

Gothamist previously reported Myrie was considering a run for mayor. And Bloomberg reported he had secured $1 million in donor commitments by the end of November he could use if he decided to launch a campaign.

Myrie’s speech at the church on West 138th Street came the same day Mayor Eric Adams gave his own pulpit address at Union Baptist Church in Harlem — and days after FBI agents searched the home of one the mayor’s top advisers, Winnie Greco. Adams’ 2021 campaign has been under federal public corruption investigation for months.

Neither the mayor nor anyone with his campaign has been charged with a crime and Adams has denied any wrongdoing.

Myrie’s speech on Sunday came at a church that’s long acted as a political springboard.

The church is more than two centuries old and has over the years hosted civil rights icons like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rep. John Lewis. Its leaders have also thrown their support behind the candidacies of former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Gov. George Pataki. Gov. Hochul attended services there in September 2021, just weeks after taking over the governorship of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was pastor of the church before being elected to the City Council and later to Congress.

Church member Evan Bedford said politics is “part and parcel of the culture of the church” and that he’s seen many politicians pass through during his more than 40 years attending services there.

Bedford said he’d never heard of Myrie before Sunday. He noted that while the church is a religious organization, it has a long history of political influence.

“Just strictly politically, it’s obviously a huge boost,” he said of the church. “It’s an implied ratification, an implied endorsement.”

Myrie’s remarks were heard by some of the city’s most powerful figures. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and newly elected state Assemblymember Landon Dais were all in attendance.

Speaking about the influence of Abyssinian, Dais said during the service he “would not be an Assembly member without my church.” He won his seat to represent parts of the Southwest Bronx in a special election last month.

Church member Daniel White said the demographics of the congregation offers politicians a unique opportunity to reach people of different ages. He said he “sincerely appreciated” Myrie’s speech.

“It is great to have individuals who are working on behalf of New Yorkers that come from marginalized communities, disadvantaged communities and communities that are outside of the main borough of Manhattan,” said White. “His speech was uplifting. It was powerful.”

Myrie, who was first elected to the state Senate in 2018, told Gothamist after the service he was focused on holding his seat in the Legislature, and didn’t comment directly on whether he’ll run for mayor.

“My focus was on talking about the voting rights act and to have some time to worship in a place with such a rich civil rights history,” he said. “Whatever happens next, I will leave it up to the lord. It is Sunday, after all.”