Michael Novakhov, a Republican assemblyman from Brooklyn, has been accused of being a socialist in GOP clothing after drawing attention for his left-leaning positions and history as a Democratic campaign donor.
Novakhov, who was born in the Soviet Union and has previously been registered as a Democrat, only switched parties in August 2020 just before running for office in a deeply red district which covers parts of Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach.
A good many of his constituents moved there after fleeing from 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 stage despite representing a district won by Republican Lee Zeldin, Novakhov expressed support for Democratic politicians on social media and at events, including New York State Governor Hochul’s inauguration.
Brooklyn Republican assemblyman Michael Novakhov won a surprise victory over a long-serving Democratic incumbent in the last election
After taking office, he hired a chief of staff who is a Democratic donor and has hosted fundraisers for Democratic politicians. He is seen here with Democratic Mayor Eric Adams
Novakhov has expressed support for Democratic politicians on social media and at events, including New York State Governor Hochul’s inauguration, pictured above
‘Proud to have witnessed Her-story being made!!! Honored to have been invited to join my fellow legislators and elected officials to attend the inauguration of New York’s first female Governor,’ he wrote.
Novakhov received endorsements from several prominent Republicans, including Lee Zeldin, Staten Island Representative 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 issues was ‘social equity’ and he expressed criticism of New York Mayor Eric Adams’ plans to remove violent vagrants from city subways.
He has also been associated with several prominent city socialists on social media and has been seen wearing a Communist-themed sweater.
He has also been associated with several prominent city socialists on social media and has been seen wearing a Communist-themed sweater, pictured above
Some voters in the deeply conservative district may have unknowingly elected a liberal politician
In addition, Novakhov has been linked to Democratic figures, including Gregory Kirsopp, who he hired as chief of staff and who has previously worked for Democratic city council members, and has expressed support for Democratic politicians on social media.
In September 2021, a fundraiser was held on behalf of Democratic Mayor Adams by Kirsopp.
The event, held at the Salmagundi Club, required a minimum donation of $1,500.
Kirsopp, who is chief of staff to Novakhov, expressed his honor at being able to host the fundraiser in a photo with Adams on Instagram.
Gavin Wax, president of the New York Young Republicans, criticized the Brooklyn Republican Party for supporting Novakhov, a former Democratic donor, in a heavily pro-Trump district.
Novakov only switched 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’ in order to win elections.
‘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 immigrant-American he, like many others in his district, registered as a Democrat,’ a Novakhov spokeswoman told The New York Post.
‘He made a number of small dollar donations to the Bernie Sanders campaign, subscribing, with the intention of seeing if the messaging of the campaign to donors differed from that of someone who solely subscribed to a newsletter.
‘In 2020, after years of frustration with the Democrat party and a continuing decline in representation of his district and the city, Michael proudly re-registered as a Republican.’
Novakov is pictured on his first day in the New York State assembly in a photo posted to his Instagram earlier this week