After months of campaign ads, polls and debates, voters finally get to cast their ballots in the primary election today.
And, of course, the biggest citywide race is the one to succeed Mike Bloomberg as mayor.
On the Democratic side, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is enjoying a commanding lead over his rivals. He is facing off with City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, former Comptroller Bill Thompson, former Congressman Anthony Weiner, current city comptroller John Liu, Sal Albanese and Erick Salgado.
The winner of the primary needs 40 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff.
NY1 will be following the candidates in all the major races in all five boroughs today.
Then join us at 7 p.m. for a special primary night edition of the “Road to City Hall.”
Our coverage continues wall-to-wall throughout the night until the races are called.
De Blasio voted 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.
Christine 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.”
Anthony 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.
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.
Lhota’s GOP rival John 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 yesterday 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.”
Spitzer is expected to vote this afternoon on the Upper East Side.
Five Democrats are also running for city Public Advocate: Catherine Guerriero, Letitia James, Reshma Saujani, Daniel Squadron, and Sidique Wai.
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 Junior.
In Brooklyn, District Attorney Charles Hynes is seeking a seventh term in office.
He is being challenged by attorney Kenneth Thompson.
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 is new again for voters today.
The old lever voting machines have been 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.
A reminder: the polls are open across the city from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information, call 866-VOTE-NYC or go online to the city Board of Elections website at vote.nyc.ny.us.
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