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Thursday is the New York State primary, where parties will nominate candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state senator, member of the Assembly, some judicial offices and the post of surrogate for Staten Island. The candidate who win today go on to the November 6 general election, where they’ll face candidates from other parties.
In New York City, most of the contests are on the Democratic side. The Reform Party is running a primary for attorney general and in several Assembly and State Senate districts: some of those are “opportunity to ballot” races where a name can be written in to win the party’s November ballot line. Republican voters have races in a few legislative districts.
The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Not sure whether you’re registered? Check here.
If you’re not registered, you have until October 12 to register for the general election. Learn more here.
If you are registered, you can confirm your voting location (“poll site’) here, and also see the ballot you’ll be voting on.
To learn more about the candidates on the ballot, check out the WNYC/Gotham Gazette/City Limits voters’ guide.
What are voters thinking about? Some told us. You could tell us more: Text “choice” to 646.916.3930.
Here is some background information on key contests:
Governor: It’s Cynthia Nixon challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo, with Nixon emphasizing more progressive policies and the need for a new voice in Albany and Cuomo running on his accomplishments and governing experience. You can read about their one debate and their positions on education, criminal justice, housing and transit. You can read the New York Times’ endorsement of Cuomo here and the Nation’s endorsement of Nixon here.
Lieutenant Governor: On paper, the LG presides over the state senate (meaning they can cast a tie-breaking vote under some circumstances) and steps in if the governor vacates the top office. But both Democrats running in the primary layer other duties on to the job. Kathy Hochul, the incumbent, believes her duty is to support the agenda of the governor. Jumaane Williams, a Brooklyn City Councilmember, would use the perch to challenge the governor and advocate for more progressive policies. Hear them both on Max & Murphy.
Attorney General: This primary was triggered by the abrupt departure in April of Eric Schneiderman from the post amid allegations of abuse toward women. The four Democrats running are Verizon official Leecia Eve, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney and Professor Zephyr Teachout. Read our profiles of each and hear their appearances on the Max & Murphy podcast (Eve, James, Maloney and Teachout.)
State Senator: There are nine state senate contests in the city on Thursday. Six of them involve challenges to former members of the Independent Democratic Conference, or IDC, which aligned with Republicans to control the Senate for several years until reuniting with mainstream Democrats in April. Read and listen below for more:
Robert Jackson vs. Sen. Marisol Alcantara: Read our article and hear Jackson and Alcantara on Max & Murphy. Thomas Leon and Triso Pina are also in this race.
John Liu vs. Sen. Tony Avella: Read our article and hear them on Max & Murphy.
Zellnor Myrie vs. Sen. Jesse Hamilton: Read our article, hear them both on Max & Murphy and watch Myrie on 112BK.
Alessandra Biaggi vs. Sen. Jeffrey Klein: Read this Gotham Gazette article.
Jessica Ramos vs. Sen. Jose Peralta: Hear Ramos and Peralta on Max & Murphy.
Jasmine Robinson and Brandon Stratford are challenging Sen. Diane Savino: Check out the Campaign Finance Board voter’s guide here or read this brief.
Three other Senate races are playing out in Brooklyn.
Blake Morris is challenging Sen. Simcha Felder, a Democrat who has caucused with Republicans to give them control of the Senate.
Andrew Gounardes is facing off with Ross Barkan for the Democratic nod to challenge Republican Sen. Martin Golden in November: Hear Barkan on Max & Murphy and watch one and then the other on BRIC-TV.
And Julia Salazar is trying to unseat Martin Dilan: Read our earlier coverage of the race and watch Salazar and Dilan on 112BK.