A Democratic Socialist candidate running unopposed for a New York State Assembly seat briefly turned to crowdfunding to cover basic living expenses, sparking questions about the appropriateness of such appeals from prospective lawmakers.
Brian Romero, a former legislative aide considered a lock for election in November to represent Queens’ 34th District, launched a GoFundMe campaign this week asking the public to help pay his rent and groceries. The fundraising page was deleted Friday afternoon after the New York Post began making inquiries about the effort.
According to the Post, Romero left his position as senior advisor to state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez in March to comply with state ethics guidelines for candidates. In that role, he earned $106,469 in the previous year. Despite claiming he had been saving money for months in preparation for his campaign, Romero said he had depleted those savings by late last week.
From ‘Open to Work’ to Crowdfunding
Romero signaled his financial difficulties on LinkedIn, where he posted that he was “open to work.” Days later, he created the GoFundMe page titled “Help Brian Cover Rent After State Assembly Run.”
In his appeal, Romero wrote: “As many of you know, I had to leave my full-time job in the legislature when I got on the ballot for our Assembly race. I’m excited that we won and I saved for months to get by but I’ve now depleted my savings as I’m close to closing down some consulting gigs.”
He indicated the funds would “cover the rest of rent and groceries” and thanked supporters, saying “The support from friends, colleagues, and community members so far has been overwhelming, and we are deeply grateful.”
Before the page was taken down, Romero had raised $1,095 toward a $2,000 goal. The donations included anonymous contributions, with the first being $50 and the largest reaching $200. Such anonymous donations would not be permissible for official campaign contributions under state law.
Quick Reversal After Media Questions
When contacted by the Post, Romero characterized the fundraiser as an error in judgment. “It was kind of done pretty quickly in consultation with some friends,” he told the outlet, calling it a “mistake” and stating he would not keep any of the donated money.
The candidate lives in a $2,600-per-month apartment in Jackson Heights with his partner, according to the Post’s reporting.
Clear Path to Office and Substantial Salary
Romero is running to succeed his former boss, Jessica González-Rojas, who is moving to the State Senate. With Republicans declining to field a candidate in the heavily Democratic Queens district, Romero faces no opposition in November’s general election, virtually guaranteeing his victory.
Once sworn in, he would earn the standard New York State Assembly salary of $142,000 annually, plus per diem payments during legislative sessions.
The episode has drawn attention in part because of the contrast between Romero’s Democratic Socialist political affiliation—which emphasizes economic redistribution and mutual aid—and the optics of a future six-figure earner soliciting donations for basic necessities from the public.
State Assembly positions in New York are full-time roles with substantial compensation packages. The $142,000 base salary places state lawmakers well above the median household income in New York, which stood at approximately $75,000 according to recent Census data.
Romero’s brief fundraising effort raises questions about financial planning expectations for candidates who must leave employment to run for office, as well as the ethical boundaries of personal crowdfunding by candidates on the verge of winning public office with significant taxpayer-funded salaries.
The candidate has not issued any public statement beyond his comments to the Post about taking down the fundraiser and not keeping the donations.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/02/33396937report-ny-democratic-socialist-candidate-asked-public-to-pay-for-his-rent-groceries/