NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — And just like that, Cynthia Nixon is calling for Manhattan Democrats to drop their support for Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney in light of her past opinions on vaccines.
The New York Post reports a "heated exchange" happened last Thursday as Maloney, a member of the U.S. House since 1993, sought support at a virtual candidate forum hosted by the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.
The group ultimately chose to back Rep. Jerrold Nadler, her longtime colleague and a current primary rival for the 12th Congressional District, with 52% of support against Maloney and fellow challenger Suraj Patel.
Nixon, an actress, activist and a former New York Democratic candidate who lost in a primary election against then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2018, told the outlet that she has been "frankly alarmed" by Maloney's "long and very well-documented history of anti-vax legislation, hearings, and rallies."
The "Sex and the City" and Broadway star alleges Maloney "sidestepped" her question, and the chances of winning the New York City Democrat's support have gone sour.
"I cannot think of a more staunch or influential anti-vax Congressperson on the Democratic side than Carolyn Maloney and that alone is enough to disqualify her in my book," Nixon added in a statement.
For years, Maloney has reportedly perpetuated a debunked link between autism and childhood vaccines before she dropped that view in 2018.
"The same thing seems to be here with vaccinations," the 76-year-old said at a 2012 congressional hearing on autism. "There's too much verbal evidence coming from parents where they break down, [and say] 'I had a normal child, I gave him a vaccination, and then they came down with autism.'"
In response, Maloney's spokesperson, Bob Liff, criticized Nixon in an email to the Post for asking a question "based on on false information and misrepresented Carolyn Maloney’s long support for vaccines and the science behind them. She did not sponsor 'eight antivax bills.'"
He said the congresswoman has also supported legislation "to increase public confidence, and address concerns about mercury in some vaccines for kids."
Nadler has long represented the Upper West Side and areas stretching down to Wall Street and parts of Brooklyn, while Maloney’s longtime turf was on the other side of Central Park: the Upper East Side, along with parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
Both are now placed in a political battle for the redrawn 12th District after the state Court of Appeals redrew the state's congressional maps.
Patel, a lawyer who has previously challenged Maloney's seat in the past, told the outlet in a statement that Nadler's past support for Maloney should also question his qualifications.
"Maloney used the power of her office, position and seniority in Congress to give platform to anti-vax conspiracy theories … and Jerry Nadler still endorsed her at the height of the pandemic," he said. "This is why we need a new generation of leaders who will put science ahead of backroom, buddy/buddy politics"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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