The Brooklyn GOP MP has been accused of being a secret leftist over his donations to Bernie Sanders

Michael Novakhov, a Republican congressman from Brooklyn, has been accused of being a socialist in GOP garb after drawing attention to his left-leaning positions and history as a donor to a Democratic campaign.

Nowakhov, who was born in the Soviet Union and previously registered as a Democrat, only switched parties in August 2020, just before running for office in a deep red neighborhood that includes parts of Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Many of its constituents moved there after fleeing the former Soviet Union.

Federal Election Commission records show that Novakhov made numerous donations to Democrats during the 2016 election cycle, including $170 to Socialist Bernie Sanders, but there are no such donations to Republicans.

Despite representing a district won by Republican Lee Zeldin, Novakhov once expressed his support for Democratic politicians on social media and at events, including the inauguration of New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Brooklyn Republican Houseman Michael Novakhov won a surprise victory over a longtime Democratic incumbent in the last election

After taking office, he hired a chief of staff who is a Democratic donor and has hosted fundraisers for Democratic politicians. He is seen here with Democratic Mayor Eric Adams

Novakhov has expressed his support for Democratic politicians on social media and at events, including the inauguration of New York State Governor Hochul, pictured above

‘Proud to have seen your story made!!! I am honored to have been invited to join my fellow congressmen and elected officials to attend the inauguration of New York’s first woman governor,” he wrote.

Novakhov garnered support from several prominent Republicans during his campaign against Democratic incumbent Steven Cymbrowitz, including Lee Zeldin, Staten Island Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, and Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay.

Despite these endorsements, including those of the Brooklyn Conservative Party, Novakhov’s public positions were often much more progressive.

One of his campaign themes was “social justice,” and he criticized New York Mayor Eric Adams’ plans to remove violent tramps from the city’s subways.

He has also been linked to several of the city’s prominent socialists on social media and wore a communist-themed sweater.

He has also been linked to several of the city’s prominent socialists on social media and wore a communist-themed sweater, pictured above

Some voters in the deeply conservative district may have unknowingly voted for a liberal politician

Additionally, Novakhov has been linked to Democrat figures, including Gregory Kirsopp, whom he hired as chief of staff and who has previously worked for Democrat city councillors, and has expressed his support for Democrat politicians on social media.

In September 2021, Kirsopp held a fundraiser on behalf of Democratic Mayor Adams.

The event, held at the Salmagundi Club, required a minimum donation of US$1,500.

Kirsopp, Novakhov’s chief of staff, expressed his honor at hosting the fundraiser in a photo with Adams on Instagram.

Gavin Wax, president of the New York Young Republicans, has criticized the Brooklyn Republican Party for supporting Novakhov, a former Democratic donor, in a heavily pro-Trump district.

Novakov only switched parties in August 2020 before running for office

The Brooklyn Republican Party has defended its decision to admit Novakhov, saying the party needs to be a “big tent” to win elections.

“Born under communist rule in Soviet Russia, Michael was able to escape to the United States to seek a better life. As an immigrant American, like many others in his district, he registered as a Democrat,” a Novakhov spokeswoman told the New York Post.

“He made a number of small dollar donations to Bernie Sanders’ campaign and logged on to see if the campaign’s message to donors was any different than someone who just subscribed to a newsletter.

“In 2020, after years of frustration with the Democratic Party and a continued decline in representation for his district and city, Michael proudly registered as a Republican.”

Novakov is pictured on his first day in the New York State Assembly in a photo posted to his Instagram earlier this week