New York Primary results: Letitia James wins Democrat race for attorney general after Andrew Cuomo takes governor race against Cynthia Nixon
The wave of progressive newcomers threaten to shake up Albany establishment, with Letitia James and Julia Salazar securing seats in New York's Democratic primaries
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Your support makes all the difference.Andrew Cuomo has won the Democrat primary for New York governor, defeating challenger Cynthia Nixon after a highly anticipated election.
Mr Cuomo's win has not come as a surprise, with far greater financial resources going into the race, and polls suggesting he held a strong lead before voting began.
His challenger, Ms Nixon, an activist and star of Sex and the City, had hoped to become the latest liberal challenger to unseat a powerful insider in Albany's Democratic establishment. The night did award some progressive candidates, however, including a State Senate seat for first-time Latina candidate, 27-year-old Julia Salazar, as well as Letitia James, New York's public advocate, who will now serve as the state attorney general.
Mr Cuomo's campaign dismissed Ms Nixon as inexperienced and touted the governor's work to push back against President Donald Trump.
His victory comes despite several missteps, including a widely condemned mailer that questioned Ms Nixon's support for Jewish people. She has two Jewish children and called the attack “sleazy.”
Mr Cuomo will face Republican Marc Molinaro and independent Stephanie Miner in November's general election.
Ms Nixon endorsed several progressive candidates vying for positions in Thursday’s election, including Zephyr Teachout, who ran against Ms James for state attorney general, as well as Jumaane Williams, who ran for lieutenant governor.
The Democratic Party’s primaries took most of the state's media focus for the day, with just one Republican vying for the governor’s seat. Marc Molinaro, a Dutchess County executive and former member of the New York State Assembly, has also criticised the two-term Democratic incumbent over his handling of the city’s subway system and other major issues.
Follow along with The Independent’s live updates throughout the night, as New Yorkers decide the outcome of the crucial 2018 primaries.
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Jumaane Williams has also spent the day reaching out to voters in a last-minute effort to secure the Democratic nomination for the state’s lieutenant governor.
He’s repeatedly attacked Andrew Cuomo and his lieutenant governor, who “fail to speak up & speak out when the people’s work isn’t being done,” according to an election day tweet.
Regardless of whether or not Cynthia Nixon defeats Andrew Cuomo, the Working Families Party has already agreed to give her their position on the November ballot — allowing her to continue fighting against the Democratic incumbent governor ahead of the contentious upcoming election.
The WFP has endorsed a slate of progressives in Thursday's Democratic primaries, including first-time Latina candidate for State Senate, Julia Salazar.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has cast his ballot in the New York Democratic primaries, accompanied by his girlfriend, Sandra Lee. The two-term incumbent can be seen shaking hands with polling place volunteers before making his way to a voting booth and casting his ballot.
New Yorkers are reporting high turnout at their local polling places across the state on Thursday.
One resident, who posted a tweet showing their ballot, wrote that they were “told by poll site supervisor” that “more people voted by 10am than all of last state election.”
Others have posted photos of crowds outside of polling sites from the morning rush, with voters wearing merchandise from Cynthia Nixon’s campaign and several other progressive candidates.
New York’s Democratic primaries feature some of the most diverse candidates in recent history for the state, with historic outcomes expected in state positions regardless of who wins Thursday’s elections.
The attorney general race outcome could possibly feature the first openly gay statewide official to be elected, one of two women vying to become the first African-American woman to hold the position, and a pregnant woman vying to become the first new mother to assume the role.
Meanwhile, it appears voters came out in droves on Thursday, with lines out the door at many polling sites.
Reporters are flanked outside of Andrew Cuomo’s home on Thursday as New Yorkers are making their way to the polls.
Vicki Lins, one of the governor’s neighbours who lives across the street, posted photos on Twitter of news vans and journalists swarming the streets. "Living across the street from @NYGovCuomo means supporters + protestors at the end of our drive and sharing the same polling place,” she wrote.
Several voters in New York have reported arriving to their local polling places to find their names were not listed on the voter rolls. The state’s attorney general office has been tracking systemic problems and troubleshooting individual issues for residents.
Voters can reach the attorney general’s office by calling 800-771-7755 or emailing their issues to civil.rights@ag.ny.gov.
Cynthia Nixon has just posted this new video showing the five-floor walkup home she grew up in with her mother while being raised in New York.
The progressive activist has sought to identify herself as a leader with a modest upbringing who has witnessed a loss of the opportunities she received as a child.
“My family didn’t have a lot of money, but I had opportunities that I don’t see for the vast majority of kids today,” she wrote in a tweet accompanying the video. “We can change that."
Lieutenant Governor candidate Jumaane Williams says he is taking a break from campaigning to visit the site of a deadly construction accident in Brooklyn, where a worker became trapped inside a collapsed wall yesterday.
"Far too often, the ppl who build our city are putting their safety on the line," Mr Williams tweeted. "My prayers are w/ the family of the worker who was a victim of this tragic incident."
New Yorkers are not thrilled about a tweet from the city's subway service provider sent this morning. The tweet says to expect delays in train service, adding that the MTA is "working on fixing things within the next 5-10 years".
Complaints about the city's subway system have formed a major part of the debate between Mr Cuomo and Ms Nixon, and Twitter users were quick to pick up on the timely message today.
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