Toni Harp officially accepted former rival Gary Holder-Winfield’s backing for her mayoral campaign — and then hinted at backing him in return for his own next career move.
Holder-Winfield (at left in photo) made his endorsement of Harp (at right) official Wednesday evening before the start of a meeting of the Democratic Town Committee. Harp is one of five Democrats left running for mayor. Holder-Winfield, who serves with Harp in the state legislature, dropped out of the race earlier on Wednesday.
“I realized my campaign wasn’t going to go where we wanted it to,” he said. “Toni is the best candidate.”
If Harp becomes mayor, that will leave her State Senate seat open. Holder-Winfield is currently a state representative. He said he would be interested in moving up to state senator if she wins. Other politicians in town who support Harp, including Alderwoman Jackie James, are also known to be interested in possibly running for that seat.
Harp had originally supported Holder-Winfield’s mayoral campaign before she, too, decided to run for mayor, all but eviscerating his potential support.
Harp Wednesday evening called Holder-Winfield “one of the shining stars in the General Assembly.” She heaped praise on him for his work on abolishing the death penalty and and working against transgender discrimination. She said he’s one of the hardest working legislators “in terms of shoe leather” and she’ll be collecting on his promise that he’ll wear out his shoes to get her elected mayor.
“I will,” Holder-Winfield said. “I’m going to be out there wearing out these shoes.”
Asked if she would support Holder-Winfield were he to run for her Senate seat if she’s elected mayor, Harp said, “I can’t think of a better candidate.”
She said she hasn’t fully made up her mind yet, and still needs to be elected mayor first.
“Most likely I would probably run” for the Senate seat if it opened up, said Holder-Winfield. “And if we want to have that conversation, I have to help Toni win.”
Meanwhile, mayoral candidate Sundiata Keitazulu, a Newhallville plumber who had signaled he was nearly ready to drop out and endorse Harp, said he’s not quite ready to do that. He said he has received “a hundred” calls since Tuesday evening’s debate from people asking him to stay in the race. That has given him new resolve to stay the course. A group of supporters worked a table outside Tuesday’s debate with campaign literature, the first sign to date of organized backing.
“Zulus don’t quit,” Keitazulu said. “Ask the British.”
“I’m the voice of the people. I may not win, but I’m going to make a difference.”