Democrat Bill de Blasio is flirting with the 40 percent mark necessary to avoid a runoff in the Democratic mayoral primary as returns roll in from Tuesday’s voting, while Joseph Lhota has won the GOP mayoral primary.
Lhota will advance to November’s general election after capturing 52 percent of the vote to John Catsimatidis’ 41 percent with a little more than 84 percent of precincts reporting.
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As of midnight, with nearly 97 percent of precincts reporting, de Blasio had 40.15 percent of the Democratic vote, leading William Thompson’s 26 percent and Christine Quinn’s 15 percent.
The winner of that primary needs 40 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff.
In the Democratic city comptroller race, Scott Stringer defeated former governor Eliot Spitzer, 52 percent to 48 percent, with more than 96 percent of precincts reporting.
Meanwhile, there will be a runoff in the Democratic primary for public advocate between state Senator Daniel Squadron and City Councilwoman Letitia James.
With more than 96 percent of precincts reporting, James had 36 percent of the vote and Suadron had 33 percent, over former Deputy Public Advocate Reshma Saujani, college professor Cathy Guerriero and the NYPD’s Sidique Wai.
In another closely-watched race, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes was upset by challenger Ken Thompson. Hynes, who has served as Brooklyn DA since 1989, received 44 percent of the vote to Thompson’s 45 percent.
With tight races across the city, today’s results will determine who’ll vie for the city’s top offices in November’s general election.
The biggest race is the one to succeed Michael Bloomberg following his 12 years as mayor.
The Democratic race includes de Blasio, the city’s public advocate; Quinn, the City Council speaker; Thompson, a former comptroller; former Rep. Anthony Weiner; current City Comptroller John Liu; former City Councilman Sal Albanese; and pastor Erick Salgado.
Weiner, who resigned his congressional post in 2011 in the wake of a lewd texting scandal, leapt to the front of many polls when he joined the mayoral race in June. But he nosedived a month later after it was revealed that he continued to exchange lewd messages with women in the months following his resignation.
“I have to say, ladies and gentleman, we had the best ideas,” he told supporters Tuesday night in his concession speech. “Sadly, I was an imperfect messenger.”
The former seven-term congressman now faces an uncertain future.
“We will continue the fight,” he said, his voice choked with emotion, as he left the stage.
De Blasio voted Tuesday at the Park Slope Public Library in Brooklyn, joined by his wife Chirlane. He says he’s confident a broad section of city voters identify with his message.
“Over the last few weeks this became a debate over where we need to go, and I think most people in this city think we need a new direction, a more progressive government that reaches out to every New Yorker, all five boroughs,” De Blasio said.
Thompson cast his vote at the Young Diplomats Magnet Academy on West 122nd Street in Harlem and was not shy about sharing his choice for mayor.
“I’ll let you know, I voted for myself. Very confident. I think the reaction, the response that I continue to get across the City of New York, from the people of this city, from voters has been great, so I’m very confident of my chances today,” Thompson said.
Quinn cast her ballot along with her wife Kim Catullo at Chelsea Prep on Ninth Avenue and 26th Street.
While recent polls have put competitors in the lead, Quinn says she is confident there will be a runoff.
“I always knew this was going to be a fight until the end. A fight to figure out who the top two candidates are going to be,” said Quinn. “I’m incredibly confident, particularly given the amazing response I’ve been getting all over the city in the past few days. I’m going to be in the runoff and three weeks from now we’ll be right back here again and I’ll win the runoff.”
Weiner hit the polls early in Manhattan, bringing his son Jordan out to Baruch College.
His name was missing from the rolls at the polling site, but the situation was eventually cleared up and he was able to vote.
His poll numbers dropped off after another online sexting scandal, but he says the race is not over yet.
“I’m running right through the tape. I’m playing a full game. I’m a Jets fan I watch them on the field with abut 40 seconds left thinking the game was over and it turned out they won. So, that’s the perspective I’m taking,” Weiner said.
Over in Whitestone Queens, current city comptroller and former City Council member John Liu cast his ballot.
The city’s Campaign Finance Board denied him $ 3.5 million in public matching funds after finding problems with his campaign fundraising.
Liu says he has never had an easy election but has always ended up on top.
“These last couple of years have not been easy for me as an elected official nor a candidate,” said Liu. “There have been every single curve ball imaginable thrown at me for this campaign. Every time they think they knock me down, we’ve gotten right back up and gotten stronger than before. And today is the strongest I’ve ever felt.”
On the Republican side, former MTA chairman Joe Lhota is up against wealthy businessman John Catsimatidis and Doe Fund founder George McDonald.
Lhota voted at the Congregation Mount Sinai Church in Brooklyn.
Due to a problem with voting machines, the former MTA chairman had to submit his ballot on paper.
Nevertheless, he says technical issues should not discourage any voters.
“I think it’s really important for all voters in New York City to get out and vote, voting is a right that we should cherish,” Lhota said.
Catsimatidis cast his vote on the Upper East Side. He dropped by a polling site on East 60th Street this morning, accompanied by his wife Margo and their children.
Catsimatidis says a vote for him will bring New Yorkers together.
“We don’t want to have a New York City what we have in Washington where all they are, they’re at loggerheads. I mean it’s wrong. It’s wrong. We as New Yorkers have to sit and work things out to everybody’s satisfaction,” Catsimatidis said.
In the Democratic race for city comptroller, former New York governor Eliot Spitzer is squaring off against Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.
A new poll released Monday showed Stringer leading Spitzer 50 percent to 43 percent.
Stringer turned out to a polling site on the Upper West Side earlier today, alongside his son to cast his ballot.
Stringer says a vote for him is a vote for equality.
“For too long I think we’ve had a double standard in this city, a standard where the wealthy and the rich can get away with things and the rest of us have to play by the rules,” said Stringer. “Maybe today’s election for comptroller is about leveling the playing field. It’s also about whether or not an individual can spend $ 10 million, one check for $ 10 million and buy the office of comptroller which is chief financial officer of the city. My sense today is that the voters are going to make the right choice.”
Voters will also make a choice in some notable borough-wide races.
Four Democrats are running for Manhattan Borough President: Gale Brewer, Robert Jackson, Jessica Lappin and Julie Menin.
The Democratic candidates for Queens Borough President include Melinda Katz and Peter Vallone Jr.
In addition to these races, many City Council districts have primaries today.
Former State Assemblyman Vito Lopez is running in one of them just months after he resigned amid a sexual harassment probe.
Meanwhile, what’s old was new again for voters Tuesday.
The old lever voting machines were brought out of retirement for the primary.
They were retired nearly four years ago when the city turned to an electronic scanning method. But with the possibility of a runoff in a few weeks, election officials were concerned there wouldn’t be enough time to reprogram the electronic machines.
Legislators in Albany agreed, allowing the lever machines to return.
The electronic scanners will be used for the general election on November 5.
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