City Council Races 2017: Progressives and Social Conservatives Clash

WNYC had been taking a closer look at some of the most competitive City Council races in partnership with City Limits and Gotham Gazette.

In District 14 in the Bronx, a socially conservative incumbent is being challenged in the Sept. 12 Democratic primary by younger progressives.

Current City Councilman Fernando Cabrera, a minister, once said in a sermon that being rich is harder than being poor. He's also not known not friendly towards abortion or gay rights.

"That's a big part of this race," said Jarrett Murphy, executive editor of City Limits. "There's been an ongoing tension in the West Bronx between Cabrera [and] a progressive faction."

District 14 includes Morris Heights, Kingsbridge and Fordham. The progressive candidates challenging Cabrera are Felix Perdomo, an immigrant and public school teacher, and Randy Abreu, a lawyer who worked with the Obama administration. 

Murphy spoke to WNYC's Richard Hake about the social politics and progressive ideas that have come up in the race.

Check out other contested City Council races here!