Phil Stanziola
Laurence Harvey and Frank Sinatra on the set of the 1962 classic “The Manchurian Candidate.” As far as we know, none of the candidates for Congress in next week’s races pass the time by playing a game of solitaire.
Next Tuesday, June 28, many New York voters will make their second of four trips to the polls in 2016, with the April presidential primary behind them and the September legislative primary and November general election still ahead.
Given where these races sit in this year’s long political calendar, they haven’t received that much attention, and turnout on Tuesday threatens to be low. In hopes of filling in some of the gaps in voter knowledge and enthusiasm, below we intersperse information on the candidates with some of the best fight scenes in movie history.
The June contests are primaries for Congressional seats, and there are 11 districts in play that involve New York City voters. The seven profiled below are the only contests that involve candidates on the ballot; the Reform Party is also holding a write-in primary that involves two of the same districts and four others.
A shameless ploy for clicks you say? Well, yes. But where else will you see campaign finance data and Frank Sinatra practicing martial arts?
To find out if you need to vote on Tuesday, enter your address here. (Jump to your district: 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th.)
3rd Congressional District
Parts of Queens as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties.
Incumbent: Steve Israel (D)
NYC Campaign Finance Board Voters Guide for this district
Track campaign contributions in this race.
The candidates
(as they appear on the ballot, links go to campaign or official websites):
Jon Kaiman
Steve Stern
Jonathan C. Clarke
Thomas R. Suozzi
Anna Kaplan
The debates:
Great Neck Democratic Club: 3rd Congressional District Debate 2016, May 17
Smithtown Dems: CD3 Primary Candidates Meet & Greet, March 13
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Frank Sinatra vs. Henry Silva in “The Manchurian Candidate”
Sing, act, sucker punch a guy who opens a door – was there anything Ol’ Blue Eyes couldn’t do? This is an incredibly well-staged fight in which skills and sloppiness meet realistically. I guess you’d say he did it his way.
5th Congressional District
Parts of Queens as well as Nassau County.
Incumbent: Gregory Meeks (D)
NYC Campaign Finance Board Voters Guide for this district
Track campaign contributions in this race.
The candidates:
Legislation introduced (current public officials only):
Rep. Meeks
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Spencer Tracy vs. Ernest Borgnine in “Bad Day at Black Rock”
Well, we certainly weren’t expecting this. The guy from “Desk Set” slapping around someone who was in “The Dirty Dozen” and “Airwolf”? I hope he isn’t coming to dinner.
7th Congressional District
Parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.
Incumbent: Nydia Velázquez (D)
NYC Campaign Finance Board Voters Guide for this district
Track campaign contributions in this race.
The candidates:
Yungman F. Lee
Jeffrey M. Kurzon
Nydia M. Velázquez
Legislation introduced (current public officials only):
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Sean Connery vs. Sadanoyama Shinmatsu in “You Only Live Twice”
While the fifth Bond film is not among Connery’s nor the series’ strongest, this particular throw down between 007 and a real-life Sumo champion stands out because it is short and very fast, and for the sweet flip Bond executes about halfway through. Also, who doesn’t pour themselves a stiff drink after prevailing in a scrap like that?
10th Congressional District
Parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan
Incumbent: Jerrold Nadler (D)
NYC Campaign Finance Board Voters Guide for this district
Track campaign contributions in this race.
The candidates:
Jerrold L. Nadler
Mikhail Oliver Rosenberg
Legislation introduced (current public officials only):
Rep. Nadler
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Hugh Grant vs. Colin Firth in “Bridget Jones’ Diary”
Hilarious? Yes. Realistic? Oh very. This is why most of us don’t invite people we disagree with to step outside.
12th Congressional District
Parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens
Incumbent: Carolyn Maloney (D)
NYC Campaign Finance Board Voters Guide for this district
Track campaign contributions in this race.
The candidates:
Peter Lindner
Carolyn B. Maloney
Legislation introduced (current public officials only):
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Steven Segal vs. Barroom of Rowdies in “On Deadly Ground”
On Deadly Ground found our favorite Aikido expert in decline as an action hero, but it is notable for being one of two Segal vehicles (“Above the Law” being the other) where there is a vague, simplistic yet undeniable political message, this one about respect for native peoples and the environment. Like all of Segal’s barroom fight scenes (“Out for Justice” also has a fantastic one), this one frames a political issue as well: Wouldn’t collective action be better? In other words, why don’t they all rush him at once?
13th Congressional District
Parts of the Bronx and Manhattan
Incumbent: Charles Rangel (D)
NYC Campaign Finance Board Voters Guide for this district
Track campaign contributions in this race.
The candidates:
Sam Sloan
Keith L. T. Wright
Guillermo Linares
Adam Clayton Powell
Clyde E. Williams
Suzan D. Johnson-Cook
Michael Gallagher
Yohanny M. Caceres
Adriano Espaillat
Legislation introduced (current public officials only):
Sen. Espaillat
Assemblyman Linares
Assemblyman Wright
The debates:
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Jim Kelly vs. The World in “Black Belt Jones”
Among the many martial-arts film stars who were also actual martial-arts champions (Kelly was a one-time world middleweight Karate title holder), no one combined cagey charm, black rage and an unnerving whoop like he did.
15th Congressional District
Parts of the Bronx
Incumbent: Jose Serrano (D)
NYC Campaign Finance Board Voters Guide for this district
Track campaign contributions in this race.
The candidates:
Legislation introduced (current public officials only):
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