The issue is the way that judges are selected in NY. The party holds a "judicial nominating convention" at which it selects the candidates that will be on the ballot, and then they all run unopposed. There is no primary to win; there is no transparency in the party selection process. The solution you propose simply doesn't exist. This is a real problem with judicial elections in NY that does not have an easy solution.

There’s no primary. Did you not read the comment you replied to?

Oh yeah let me just put this spare million dollars I have into my election fund. Good thing I can spend my time campaigning instead of like, working my job that puts food on the table. Who needs that

Can you just declare you are in the Democratic Party though?