Ex-Adams aide Hercules Reid loses N.Y. Assembly race despite mayoral endorsement

Community organizer Monique Chandler-Waterman handily defeated former City Hall aide Hercules Reid in Tuesday’s election to represent a section of Brooklyn in the State Assembly — dealing a political blow to Mayor Adams, who endorsed Reid in the contest.

Chandler-Waterman, the Democratic nominee in the special election for Brooklyn’s 58th Assembly District, clutched nearly 80% of the vote total, according to preliminary results from the Board of Elections. Reid, who ran as an independent, netted about 18% of ballots cast in the election, which saw a very low turnout of less than 2,400 votes.

Reid, who has worked for Adams in multiple capacities since 2019, conceded the race Wednesday morning, but affirmed he will challenge Chandler-Waterman again next month in the Democratic primary for the same seat.

“Everyone knows that June 28th is what matters most, and I remain focused on bringing effective and dedicated leadership to this community,” Reid said in a statement. “This incredibly low-turnout special election result will only be temporary. I will not back down against insiders trying to install one of their own in this seat. We are going to build on our strong showing yesterday to emerge victorious next month. We’re not done yet and I’m excited for the work ahead.”

Chandler-Waterman did not immediately return a request for comment.

The seat for the 58th District, which covers East Flatbush, Brownsville and Canarsie, was vacated after incumbent Assemblyman Nick Perry got picked earlier this year to become the U.S. ambassador to Jamaica.

Perry endorsed Chandler-Waterman to succeed him, ostensibly making her a shoo-in for the seat.

But Adams threw a wrench into the process by endorsing Reid’s campaign on May 11 in a move that rankled some local Democrats who questioned why he’d expend political capital to support a third-party candidate.

As first reported by the Daily News on Monday, Reid also landed a senior job earlier this month at the School Construction Authority, the Department of Education’s design and build arm. Reid told The News that Adams had “nothing to do” with him getting the SCA post, which he was hired for after working briefly as an assistant to the mayor in City Hall in January.

Daniele de Groot, a spokeswoman for Reid, said he will return to work at the SCA while gearing up for next month’s primary.

“As a proud, working-class Brooklynite, Hercules will be heading back to work to continue his life of service to our city,” de Groot said.