It’s party time for Peralta.
Queens Assemblymember Jose Peralta scored a convincing victory in the Special Election for Senate District 13 handily defeating former State Senator Hiram Monseratte and Republican candidate Robert Beltrani, according to preliminary election results.
"Tonight is a great victory for the people of Queens. For the decent hardworking families that strive every day to run their businesses, raise their kids and do right by their communities," said Peralta. "Tonight is the start of a new chapter in the history of the 13th Senatorial District."
With 63 percent of the votes tallied, Peralta had received 65.7 percent of the vote compared to Monserrate’s 27.1 percent. Beltrani had 7.2 percent of the vote.
"Tonight the people of the 13th Senatorial District voted to send a man to Albany who will work for them, who will defend the values of our party, and who will never, and I mean never, abandon the core principles of equality that makes us proud to be true Democrats," Peralta said.
Peralta, who was the choice of the Queens Democratic Party and endorsed by many legislators and unions throughout the state, will take over the vacant seat that was left after the Senate expelled Monserrate in February.
"Tonight we put an end to dysfunction, to divisiveness, to disappointment," Peralta said during his victory speech. "Our nightmare is over. A new day has begun."
Early on Tuesday morning, joined by his wife and son, Peralta projected confidence as he cast his vote at The Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights. While talking to reporters outside of the school before going inside to vote, Peralta said that by electing him voters would send a message that it’s time for a change in Albany.
“We need someone who is going to work well with others,” Peralta said.
Peralta said that education and health care are the two most important issues in the race, and he is the person most qualified to work with the legislators in the State Senate and Assembly during the crucial upcoming budget negotiations.
“It’s all about who can deliver for this community,” Peralta said.
Early in the evening a steady stream of late shift volunteers, some in their business suits and university students in jeans and T-shirts, continued to drop by Peralta’s campaign office. Campaign spokesperson, Anne Fenton, said that by the end of the night they expected about 500 people volunteered to get out the vote.
"I think Jose Peralta did pretty well in Jackson Heights," said Alan Schulkin, a member of the Public Employees Federation (PEF) who spent the day handing out literature at the schools. "However, I think that near P.S. 149, around 93rd Street and 34th Avenue, it seemed like 50/50."
According to Schulkin, PEF made phone calls, went door-to-door and wrote letters to their members to support Peralta.
"For a special election, the turnout was pretty good," said Schulkin.
Near 7 p.m., the home stretch of the Election Day, Councilmember James Van Bramer popped his head into at the Peralta headquarters.
"We’ve had a team out all day, at the polling site doing visibility," Van Bramer said. "I think he’s [Peralta] going to win and I think it should be good. People are anxious for a change."
