Upon returning to Queens after a three-month hiatus, I am having serious trouble recognizing my hometown. No, New York has not been swept under a tidal wave as in the movie “2012.” The reason for my confusion is that incumbents facing primary challengers appear genuinely worried about next week’s election.
Primaries, after all, are usually a fait accompli, where incumbents and the party machine’s candidates’ victories are foregone conclusions. However, this year’s primaries are actually producing exciting contests.
Not to state the obvious, but incumbents are facing an unprecedented surge in voter anger, directed at an amorphous entity known as “the establishment.” The electorate’s faith in government seems to be at historic lows, and incumbents are bearing the brunt of this discontent.
Across the country, voters are dissatisfied with Washington. The causes of this dissatisfaction vary among differing segments of the electorate. Some believe that too little attention has been paid to job creation, while others see unrealized expectations of meaningful change, and still others feel a cultural disconnect with the administration.
At a meet the candidates last week at the Bay Terrace Jewish Center, Congressmember Gary Ackerman was even feistier than his usual feisty self in responding to criticisms from audience members on health reform and attacks from his primary opponent, Patricia Maher.
It is well known that incumbents, ensconced in the dignity of the office and benefiting from higher name recognition, don’t often go on the offense against little known challengers unless polls or other indicators suggest a race that’s too close for comfort.
Voter discontent is magnified in New York, where disenchantment with Washington is accompanied with dissatisfaction with Albany.
A prime example of this dissatisfaction is the unprecedented three-way primary in the 16th Senate District held by Toby Ann Stavisky. Stavisky is facing a vigorous challenge from community activist Isaac Sasson, a cancer researcher, veteran and philanthropist as well as from John Messer, a 40-year-old lawyer.
Meanwhile, John Duane appears to be gaining on Ed Braunstein, the party’s endorsed candidate in the 26th Assembly District’s Democratic primary. These races are the ones to watch next Tuesday. Stay tuned.
PS. Many thanks to fellow Beechhurst native Mike Niebauer for filling in for me during the summer!
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Daniel Egers is executive director of the Queens County Republican Party and an advisor to the Assembly campaign of Vince Tabone.
