In a surprise upset, Democrat Max Rose defeated Republican congressman Dan Donovan on Tuesday, flipping New York City’s only Republican seat in the House. Rose prevailed in New York’s 11th District, which includes all of Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn and President Trump won by 10 points in 2016.
A key to his win was the Democratic campaign’s canvassing efforts which proved to be far more effective. Rose’s supporters knocked on more than twice as many doors, and placed twice as many lawn signs than Donovan’s team reported. On election night, Rose said his volunteers had knocked on a half million doors.
Some of the volunteers started to support the 31-year-old veteran a year ago such as Shahana Masum, the Muslim outreach leader in Staten Island for the New York State Immigrant Action Fund. The 51-year-old Bangladeshi was a very dedicated supporter. Every day, she worked at the phone banks with her husband and gathered members of the Muslim community to canvas.
Shadia Mazumder was one of them. One week before the election, the business student took days off from school to canvas with her young brother in the Northern section of Staten Island.
“People were very energized by this tight race,” said Sharona Parchment, Executive Director of the Richmond County Democratic Committee. “They were looking for someone able to provide for Staten Islanders.”
The Staten Island Democratic Party held an event at The Vanderbilt. Bonnie Ferrando attended the party. The president of the Arden Heights Boulevard Jewish Center supported Rose for the last five months. Raised on Staten Island, the mother of two couldn’t contain her emotion after he won. “This is the most awesome day in our borough and in my life,” she said.
Meet Max Rose’s supporters:
ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION
ELECTION DAY & NIGHT
ELECTION NIGHT
