Phara Souffrant Forrest

Phara Souffrant Forrest (born February 5, 1989) is an American politician, nurse, and tenant activist. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Forrest is the assembly member for the 57th district of the New York State Assembly. After defeating incumbent Assembly Member Walter T. Mosley in the Democratic primary in June 2020, Forrest won the general election in November of that year.[1] Forrest defeated former District Manager of Community Board 2 Olanike Alabi in the primary to defend her seat in 2022. She was unopposed in the general election.[2][3][4]

Phara Souffrant Forrest
A Black woman with glasses and a white, green, and black hairband, photographed in profile against a bush. She wears a blue surgical mask.
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 57th district
Assumed office
January 1, 2021
Preceded byWalter T. Mosley
Personal details
Born (1989-02-05) February 5, 1989
Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Other political
affiliations		Democratic Socialists of America
EducationSUNY Geneseo (BA)
New York City College of Technology (AAS)
CUNY School of Professional Studies (BSN)
Occupationpolitician, nurse
WebsiteCampaign website
Official website

Early life and education

Forrest was born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn to immigrants from Haiti.[5] In 2011, she graduated from State University of New York at Geneseo with a B.A. in International Relations and Affairs.[6] Forrest pursued a career in nursing, attending the New York City College of Technology and the CUNY School of Professional Studies to receive an A.A.S. and B.S. in Registered Nursing, respectively.

Political career

In 2017, Forrest joined the Crown Heights Tenant Union as part of her efforts to fight against the gentrification and displacement of her rent-stabilized apartment building. Then in June 2019 she worked with the Housing Justice for All campaign to fortify tenant protective rights.[7]

In August 2019, Forrest launched a campaign against incumbent Democrat Walter T. Mosley in the primary for the heavily Democratic 57th State Assembly district. Souffrant's campaign emphasized support for decarceration,[8] investment in public housing,[9] and state-wide single-payer healthcare.[10] During her campaign, she was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America[11] and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[12] Her campaign was funded entirely by the community, with no outside funding from corporations or businesses.[13]

Forrest trailed Mosley by 588 votes on election night June 23, 2020, but absentee ballots were more significant than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once absentee ballots were counted on July 22, 2020, Forrest led Mosley by over 2,500 votes and was declared the winner.[14] While Mosley remained on the general election ballot under the Working Families Party line, Forrest won the November race with about 74% of the vote over Mosley's 26%.[15]

In 2022, Forrest was challenged by former District Leader and Community Board District Manager Olanike "Ola" Alabi in the Democratic primary.[16] Alabi was supported by the Kings County Democratic Party and Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, among others.[17] Forrest won with 67.24% of the vote while Alabi received 32.43% of the vote. Forrest was uncontested in the General Election.[18]

References
  1. Witt, Stephen (2020-07-22). "New Day in Assembly: Gallagher Unseats Lentol, Forrest Unseats Mosley". Kings County Politics. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  2. Long, Ariama (9 June 2022). "Meet State Assembly District 57 candidate Olanike Alabi". Amsterdam News.
  3. "New York Primary Election Results". The New York Times. 2022-06-28. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  4. "Live New York 2022 Election Results". 8 November 2022.
  5. Ramos, Tatiana Mena (2020-07-22). "This Union Nurse and Tenant Activist Is Ready to Stand Up to New York's Political Establishment". BeLatina. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  6. "Phara Souffrant Forrest | LinkedIn".
  7. Connley, Courtney (2020-11-27). "Meet Phara Souffrant Forrest, 31-year-old nurse who is now a member of the New York State Assembly". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  8. "Decarceration". Phara for Assembly. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  9. "Housing". Phara for Assembly. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  10. "Healthcare". Phara for Assembly. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  11. Williams, Zach (2019-10-10). "The party of gentrifiers is moving into Brooklyn". CSNY. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  12. Baig, Sara (2020-06-10). "Phara Souffrant Forrest Wants to Cancel Your Rent". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  13. Verde, Ben (2020-07-22). "Phara Souffrant Forrest declares victory over Walter Mosley in Crown Heights Assembly race • Brooklyn Paper". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  14. Verde, Ben (2020-07-22). "Breaking: Phara Souffrant Forrest declares victory over Walter Mosley in Crown Heights assembly race". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  15. Quinn, Anna (November 3, 2020). "Phara Souffrant Forrest Wins In NY's 57th Assembly District". Patch. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  16. Zagare, Liena (9 June 2022). "It's Crown Heights Versus Clinton Hill In The Assembly Primary Between Phara Souffrant Forrest and Olanike "Ola" Alabi". Bklyner. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  17. "Brooklyn Dems Target Socialist Nurse in June 28 Assembly Primary". The Indypendent. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  18. "Our Campaigns - NY Assembly 57 - D Primary Race - Jun 28, 2022". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 26 January 2023.

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