Big Election Day For N.Y. Dems
Democrats in New York celebrated not only the re-election of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday, Nov. 6, but also victories for numerous local seats in Congress, the Assembly and State Senate.
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo survived a challenge from City Council Member Eric Ulrich in the tense battle for the 15th State Senate District seat, which covers parts of Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Forest Hills, Rego Park, Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Lindenwood, Howard Beach, Broad Channel and areas of the Rockaways.
With all of the precincts reporting, Addabbo-the incumbent Democrat- garnered 57.3 percent of the vote (38,011), while Ulrich-the Reby publican challenger-took 42.8 percent (28,358).
Also victorious on Election Day was Assemblywoman Grace Meng, who became the first Asian-American from Queens to win a seat on Capitol Hill by taking the new Sixth Congressional District race. More than two-thirds of voters in the district chose the Democratic candidate from Flushing for the open seat (100,571) over her Republican rival, City Council Member Daniel Halloran, who secured 31.2 percent of the vote (46,305). Green Party nominee Evergreen Chou garnered a little over one percent of the vote (1,729).
The Sixth Congressional District seat includes parts of Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and eastern Queens neighborhoods.
Heading to Capitol Hill
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to the seat formerly held by current Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton back in 2009 and won the right to fill out Clinton’s term in 2010, easily won her first full six-year term in the U.S. Senate. In getting more than 72 percent of the statewide vote (4,153,247), Gillibrand defeated the Republican nominee, Manhattan attorney Wendy Long (27 percent, 1,530,713). Third party candidates, each of whom received less than one percent of the vote, were Green Party candidate Colia Clark of Manhattan (35,987), Libertarian Chris Edes of Rochester (27,694) and Common Sense Party nominee John Mangelli of Bayville (19,811).
Along with Meng, the winners of other Congressional races in the Times Newsweekly coverage area include the following:
– Rep. Gregory Meeks will be returning to Capitol Hill next year to represent the new Fifth Congressional District seat, which includes parts of Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park, southeast Queens and the Rockaways. The incumbent Democrat secured 89.7 percent of the vote (146,728) over his Republican challenger, former City Council Member Allan Jennings Jr. (9.6 percent, 15,640), and Libertarian candidate Catherine Wark of Kew Gardens (0.7 percent, 1,161).
– Rep. Nydia Velázquez was also a big winner on Election Day as she won the new Seventh Congressional District seat, which covers parts of Woodhaven, Ridgewood, Glendale, Bushwick and areas of northern Brooklyn and southern Manhattan. More than 94.5 percent of voters selected Velazquez (116,873), the Democratic incumbent, over Republican nominee James Murray of Brooklyn, who received 5.5 percent (6,823).
– Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries overwhelmingly won the new Eighth Congressional District seat, which includes parts of Ozone Park, Lindenwood, Howard Beach and areas of central Brooklyn. About nine in 10 voters chose the Brooklyn Democrat (159,463) over Republican and Conservative candidate Alan Bellone of Brooklyn (8.8 percent, 15,546) and Green Party nominee Colin Beavan of Brooklyn (1.2 percent, 2,098).
– Rep. Carolyn Maloney was also easily re-elected to Congress, winning the new 12th Congressional District seat, which covers parts of Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Maspeth, northern Queens and midtown Manhattan. The incumbent Democrat secured 80.9 percent of the vote (158,834) over her Republican challenger, Christopher Wight of Manhattan, who took 19.1 percent (37,580).
– Finally, Rep. Joseph Crowley was sent back by voters to Washington in a landslide to represent the new 14th Congressional District, which includes areas of Woodside, Astoria, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Corona, Jackson Heights and the Bronx. Crowley, the incumbent Democrat, won over 83 percent of the vote (108,436) over two opponents from the Bronx: Republican and Conservative candidate William Gibbons Jr. (15.3 percent, 19,934) and Green Party nominee Anthony Gronowicz (1.8 percent, 2,322).
Contested State Senate races
In other key State Senate races, State Sen. Michael Gianaris handily won another term as the representative of the 12th State Senate District seat, which covers parts of Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Maspeth, Ridgewood, Glendale, Woodhaven and Ozone Park. More than 86 percent of voters selected the incumbent Democrat (56,505) over his Republican challenger, Tony Arcabascio of Astoria, who took 13.7 percent (8,982).
Also victorious was incumbent State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky, who won the new 16th State Senate District seat that covers areas of Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Maspeth, Middle Village, Rego Park and Woodside and eastern Queens areas. The Democratic candidate gained over 76 percent of the vote (40,355) over her Republican and Conservative challenger, J.D. Kim of Flushing, who garnered over 23 percent (12,496).
Another big winner on Election Night was State Sen. Martin Malave Dilan, who received an incredible 94.4 percent of the vote from the new 18th State Senate District, which includes parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick, Cypress Hills, East Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The Democratic incumbent bested Republican and Conservative challenger Michael Freeman-Saulsberre of Bedford- Stuyvesant, who garnered 5.6 percent (3,602).
Contested Assembly races
Assemblywoman Margaret Markey once again defeatedMaspeth civic activist and businessman Tony Nunziato in the race for the 30th Assembly District. Markey, the incumbent Democrat who was previously challenged by the Republican Nunziato for the seat in 2008 and 2010, secured 68.3 percent of the vote (18,392), while Nunziato received 31.8 percent (8,555).
The 30th Assembly District includes parts of Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside, Maspeth, Middle Village and Rego Park.
Despite his recent scandal, Assemblyman Vito Lopez will also return to Albany as the representative of the 53rd Assembly District seat (parts of Bushwick, East Williamsburg and Williamsburg). About nine out of 10 voters in the district chose Lopez (22,455) over his Republican opponent, Richy Garcia of Bushwick, who garnered 10.3 percent (2,564)
Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, the Democratic incumbent and Working Families party incumbent in the 37th Assembly District (parts of Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Maspeth, Middle Village and Ridgewood), easily turned back the challenge of Republican John Kevin Wilson of Sunnyside. Nolan received the support of 87.7 percent of voters (22,202), while Wilson took 12.3 percent (3,120).
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas cruised to victory in the 36th Assembly District race, which covers parts ofAstoria, Long Island City and Woodside. The Democratic incumbent won her second term in office with 84 percent of the vote (24,292), while her Republican challenger, Julia Haich of Astoria, received 16 percent (4,626).
Finally, Assemblyman Rafael Espinal won his first full term in office as representative of the 54th Assembly
District, which covers parts of Bushwick, Cypress Hills and East New York. Espinal won a whopping 96.5 percent of the vote (21,756) while his Republican challenger, Khorshed Chowdhury, received just 3.5 percent (789).
A worry-free election for some
Unopposed Democratic candidates for State Senate and Assembly in the Times Newsweekly coverage area who were insured re-election on Tuesday night were the following:
– City Council Member James Sanders, who is now the State Senator elect for the 10th Senate District (parts of Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Jamaica, southeastern Queens and the eastern Rockaways);
– State Sen. Jose Peralta of the 13th State Senate District seat (parts of Astoria, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Corona);
– State Sen. Malcolm Smith of the 14th State Senate District seat (parts of Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and southeastern Queens);
– Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder of the 23rd District (parts of Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Lindenwood, Howard Beach, Broad Channel and the Rockaways);
– Assemblyman David Weprin of the 24th District (parts of Richmond Hill and central Queens);
– Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz of the 27th District (parts of Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill and northeastern Queens);
– Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi of the 28th District (parts of Ridgewood, Glendale, Middle Village, Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens and Richmond Hill);
– Assemblywoman Michele Titus of the 31st District (parts of Richmond Hill, South Ozone Park and southeastern Queens);
– Assemblyman Michael Den- Dekker of the 34th District seat (parts of East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona andWoodside);
– Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry of the 35th District (parts of East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Corona and Rego Park);
– Assemblyman Mike Miller of the 38th District (parts of Ridgewood, Glendale, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Woodhaven); and
– Assemblyman Francisco Moya of the 39th District (parts of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Woodside and Corona).
Judicial races
Democrats Lawrence Cullen of Flushing, Leslie Purificacion of Maspeth and Charles LoPresto of Long Island City were easily elected to the three seats as Justices of the State Supreme Court’s 11th Judicial District. They defeated Republicans Robert Beltrani of Jackson Heights and Giovanni Silvangni of Middle Village.
The following judicial candidates were elected unopposed to judicial seats:
– Democrats Donna-Marie Golia of Douglaston and Robert Caloras of Little Neck as Judges of the Civil Court for Queens;
– Democrat Ulysses B. Leverett of Jamaica as the Judge of the Civil Court for the Fourth Municipal District;
– Larry Love of Forest Hills, who ran on the Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines, as the Judge of the Civil Court for the Fifth Municipal District.
