On Thursday, October 17th, a lively and well-attended gathering at Wise Bar & Grill in Sheepshead Bay was hosted by Assemblyman Michael Novakhov to gather support for his reelection campaign. Marked by music, laughter and passionate speeches, the event brought together a community united in its support for Novakhov, who is running for reelection in Assembly District 45.
The night was filled with performances by local talents including Misha Botsman, Sasha Butov, Igor Erastov (DJ Keyo), Ellina Graypel and the Odessa Band, who entertained the crowd with energetic and soulful performances. Novakhov later expressed his gratitude to the musicians, remarking, “Special thanks to each musician! Neither of them took a penny for their work—it was their contribution to the campaign!”
Novakhov kept the tone light, saying, “This was the most informal political convention I have ever seen! Everything that happened was sincere, touching and honest—so far from politics, but exactly what I want to bring into it.” He also acknowledged his campaign staff, including Chief of Staff Gregory Kirsopp and Natalia Yuriyevna, for organizing the event.
The evening featured speeches from prominent local figures, including former Councilman Ari Kagan, who praised Novakhov’s dedication to the community. “Michael is a fighter for our community, a strong advocate for common-sense policies and someone who stands against antisemitism and in support of Israel,” Kagan said. “We’re not celebrating yet; we cannot relax until after the election – onward to victory on November 5th!”
Radio host Galina Goldberg, co-founder of Freedom FM Radio, added humor to the night, playfully teasing Novakhov about his decision to enter politics. “Michael takes everything to heart, hates injustice and always gets what he wants. There’s no space in politics for someone like that!” Goldberg joked but also urged the crowd to spread the word and ensure strong voter turnout.
Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny emphasized the importance of financial contributions, telling attendees, “Politics depends on numbers, and it’s difficult to ask friends for money, but that’s how we reach people. Everyone here already knows how they’ll vote, but we need resources to convince others.”
As the event came to a close, Novakhov said, “Thank you to everyone who came out to support me. It was a night to remember!”
