Velázquez, Jeffries Win House Primaries
Assemblywoman Grace Meng won a four-way race for the Democratic nomination for the new Sixth Congressional District seat in the Tuesday, June 26 primary that will be remembered for one of the lowest turnouts in history.
The Flushing-based lawmaker garnered 53 percent of the vote (12,580), while Assemblyman Rory Lancman of Hillcrest finished second with 28 percent (6,995). City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley of Glendale secured third place with 16 percent (3,918), and physician Robert Mittman of Bayside brought up the rear with five percent (1,265).
Meng will face the Republican nominee, City Council Member Daniel Halloran of Bayside, in the November general election for the seat that will represent parts of Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and a host of neighborhoods in eastern Queens.
In all, less than 25,000 votes were cast in the race for a Congressional district with a population of over 600,000, an example of the kind of abysmal turnout experienced at the polls across the city and state.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez turned back three challengers for the new Seventh Congressional District seat, which includes parts of Ridgewood, Glendale, Woodhaven, Cypress Hills, Bushwick and other neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
With all of the precincts reporting, Velázquez secured 58 percent of the vote (16,011). Her next closest challenger, City Council Member Erik Martin Dilan of Bushwick, received 31 percent (8,589). Finishing in third was Manhattan economist Daniel O’Connor with eight percent (2,264), and professor George Martinez of Bedford-Stuyvesant rounded out the field with three percent (752).
Rep. Gregory Meeks was also victorious on Tuesday night as he defeated three challengers for the nomination to the new Fifth Congressional District, which includes parts of South Ozone Park and Richmond Hill. Meeks secured 66 percent of the vote (7,761) over former City Council Member Allan Jennings with 13 percent (1,532), attorney Mike Scala with 12 percent (1,369) and community organizaer Joseph Marthone with 10 percent (1,181).
Jennings, who was also nominated by the Republican Party for the seat, will face off against Meeks again in November.
Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn secured the Democratic nomination for the new Eighth Congressional District, which includes Ozone Park, Howard Beach and Lindenwood along with various central Brooklyn neighborhoods. Jeffries garnered 72 percent of the vote (25,712) over his lone opponent, Brooklyn City Council Member Charles Barron, who secured 28 percent (10,063).
In November, Jeffries will face the Republican candidate for the seat, Brooklyn businessman Alan Bellone.
Manhattan attorney Wendy Long was an upset winner of the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. With all of the precincts reporting, Long garnered 51 percent of the vote (69,168) over Rep. Bob Turner of Breezy Point with 36 percent (48,429) and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos with 13 percent (18,307).
Long and Gillibrand will face off for the Senate seat in the November election.
Voters will be asked to return to the polls in September to choose party nominees for statewide races.
