January 1, Cornell Student Elected as Communist in Ithaca

Wyatt’s Take

• Ithaca picks a 20-year-old Communist Party member for city council.
• Hannah Shvets backs big wage hikes and strict renter rules.
• Her win follows anti-Israel activism and socialist endorsements.

Ithaca, New York, has elected Hannah Shvets, a 20-year-old Cornell student and Communist Party USA member, to its Common Council. Shvets won support from local socialist groups and tenant advocates as she beat out independent challenger G.P. Zurenda.

She has been involved in anti-Israel protests since October 7, 2023, participating in activist actions after the Hamas attack on Israel. Her election was publicly welcomed by People’s World, a paper tied to the Communist Party USA.

Shvets, who grew up in Texas, has ideas similar to socialist Zohran Mamdani, recently chosen as New York City’s mayor. She wants to block most evictions for rent-stabilized tenants and raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour, with even tighter job protections for workers.

“I just think it’s really important now to bring together issues of affordability and issues of justice. We need to find ways to make Ithaca a place in which both locals and students can live and afford to live and thrive,” Shvets said.

Every election shapes Main Street. Old American values face modern pressures, and folks in the heartland keep a watchful eye as radical ideas take hold in towns big and small. Stay alert, stay informed, and always stand up for what counts back home.

Wyatt Matters

This story shows how local votes matter deeply, and why it’s important to pay attention when outsiders bring big city politics to the doorsteps of hard-working communities.

Read more here