After the polls closed on Tuesday, Aug. 23, on the second of two separate Primary Election Days held in 2022, due to redistricting, New York City Board of Elections released the initial, unofficial results in the congressional and State senate races, based on the majority of returned poll site scanners, which cover both early votes and election day votes.

 

Below are some of the results of the various Bronx races, following a voter turnout described by one Norwood News reporter as “anemic.” Indeed, the situation raises questions not only about voter fatigue, but also about the overall cost to taxpayers of holding two separate primary elections within the space of a few months.

 

 

The remaining scanners, as well as absentee and overseas ballots, still have to be counted, but some candidates have already declared victory based on projected votes.

 

In the Democratic primary for redrawn Senate District 33, which as reported, will encompass, effective Jan. 1, 2023, some or all of the neighborhoods of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham Manor, Fordham Heights, Pelham Parkway, Belmont, Tremont, Morris Park, Van Nest, Allerton, Pelham Parkway, Spuyten Duyvil, Fieldston, Riverdale and North Riverdale, Woodlawn Cemetery and Van Cortlandt Park, Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) led on Election Night with 52.06 percent of vote.

 

By Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, with 98.73 percent of scanners returned, the senator had maintained his lead and had declared victory over rival, first-time candidate, lawyer and former Board of Elections commissioner, Miguelina Camilo, though his lead had dropped to 51.9 percent at that stage. The two had battled it out in front of the cameras on more than one occasion during the election season, as reported.

 

A breakdown of the returns for each candidate from each of the assembly districts in redrawn S.D. 33 is provided below.

 

Rivera has served in [existing] senate district 33 for 11 years, since he beat the incumbent, former Sen. Pedro Espada, who was previously convicted of fraud, as reported.

 

Meanwhile, Camilo had received the backing of the all-powerful Bronx Democratic Party in the senate race, a factor that had overshadowed much of the primary election season, resulting in a charged situation and which stemmed from the debacle that was redistricting, as reported.

 

In the Democratic primary for redrawn Senate District 34, which will cover the neighborhoods of Westchester Square, City Island, Ferry Point, Pelham Bay, Parkchester, Clason Point, Throggs Neck, Country Club, Castle Hill, Soundview and parts of Morris Park, Pelham Parkway and Eastchester, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez (A.D. 80) led with 62.62 percent of the vote on Election Night.

 

By Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, the assemblywoman’s lead had increased to 62.96 percent of the vote share with 96.5 percent of voting scanners returned.

 

The assembly member was set to end her current term in the assembly on January 1, 2023. In addition to running for S.D. 34, she was also running for re-election in Assembly District 80, though the June 28 Democratic and Working Families Party primaries for this office were canceled.

 

The assembly district includes parts of the Norwood, Allerton, Bedford Park, Morris Park, Mosholu Parkway, Pelham Parkway, Pelham Gardens and Van Nest neighborhoods, and it remains to be seen now who will put themselves forward for this seat, given her strong showing in the senate race.

 

As reported, Fernandez decided to run to represent redrawn Senate District 34, when State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34), who is the senator for current senate district 34 until the end of the year, announced she was running for Congress in New York’s 17th congressional district, against Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who represents New York’s current 18th congressional district until the end of the year. Maloney has been declared the victor in the primary race based on the results so far.

 

Challenging Fernandez in the senate race was Christian Amato, a co-chair of the transportation committee on Bronx Community Board 11, and a former deputy chief of staff for Biaggi. Also challenging the assemblywoman was John Perez, community activist, retired U.S. army combat veteran and former assembly district leader.

 

Fernandez previously worked as the Bronx regional representative for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and with former assemblyman and city councilman, Mark Gjonaj.

The assemblywoman released a statement following the release of the initial results as of 9.33 p.m. on Election Night, saying, “Tonight, we celebrate a victory for the people of the Bronx and Westchester. I’m proud of the campaign we have run and the coalition we built together – and to my future constituents, I hope this victory makes you feel heard, represented, and understood.”

 

A breakdown of the votes from each of the assembly districts that make up redrawn senate district 34 is provided below.

The statement continued, “Now more than ever, we need legislators that are responsive to the direct needs of their constituents and aren’t afraid to have those difficult conversations. That’s why we stood on every street corner from Soundview to Pelham, engaging directly with thousands of voters and listening to the needs of the community. We reached every neighborhood that makes up the incredibly diverse fabric of District 34.”

 

Fernandez added, “From here, I will work tirelessly to bring resilient climate infrastructure, accessible and affordable public transportation and better job opportunities to the 34th district. Our campaign presented solutions for some of the biggest issues facing The Bronx and Westchester, from climate resilience and transportation to small business and quality of life.”

Fernandez concluded, saying, “We built a coalition of political and labor support in service of the working people of this district. As a result, the movement we built together felt excitement grow every day about our shared vision for a 34th District where our families can thrive for generations to come. This is about so much more than one campaign, or winning one seat: it’s about keeping responsive leadership in Albany to fight for State Senate District 34. This victory belongs to all of us.”

 

In the Democratic primary for redrawn Senate District 31, which covers a large swath of Manhattan as well as some or part of the Bronx neighborhoods of Morris Heights, University Heights, Kingsbridge Heights, Kingsbridge, and Marble Hill, Sen. Robert Jackson (S.D. 31) led with 55.11 percent of the vote on Election Night.

 

By Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, Jackson’s lead had increased to 57 percent, surprising some who believed his Bronx Democratic Party-backed opponent, Angel Vasquez, might have stood a chance at victory.

Vasquez had also been endorsed by the congressman who represents much of the same district, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13).

A breakdown of the votes from each of the assembly districts that make up redrawn S.D. 31 is provided above.

 

Jackson was succinct in his reaction, shared in the early hours of Aug. 24, writing simply, “Thank you!!!! We won together!”

 

One supporter of the senator, Kaliris Salas-Ramirez, PhD, wrote, “And finally, my hero, @RJackson_NYC, has been a mentor, a cheerleader, a supporter and literally one of the most honest human beings I have ever met”

 

She continued, “This ability to organize communities while still seeing the bigger picture and navigating nuance is extraordinary. #TeamJackson is one of the finest around. I appreciate you so much. @JohannaG_NYC @marriabau I just can’t imagine where our schools would be if not for you!”

 

In New York’s redrawn 16th Congressional District Democratic Primary, which largely covers Westchester but incorporates the Bronx neighborhood of Wakefield, Rep. Jamaal Bowman led with 91.53 percent of the vote on Election Night. He tweeted shortly after the polls closed, “What an incredible election day! Thanks for all the love and support across the district, so honored to represent each and every one of you.”

 

By Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, Bowman had maintained his lead with 91.51 percent of the vote share based on 93.94 percent of scanners returned, and had declared victory.

 

Bowman later wrote in response to the results, “I am so humbled to have won the Democratic nomination for NY-16. Every one of you is more important to this victory than even I am. Let’s get to work on the general!”

 

A breakdown of the votes from each of the assembly districts that make up NY-16 is provided above.

In New York’s redrawn 13th Congressional District Democratic primary, which covers a large strip of Northern Manhattan, including Washington Heights and Inwood, and parts or all of the Bronx neighborhoods of University Heights, Morris Heights, Marble Hill, Fordham Manor, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge and Kingsbridge Heights, Espaillat led with 80.31 percent of the vote on Election Night.

 

By Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, he had maintained his lead, though it had dropped to 79.92 percent of the vote based on 98.56 percent of returned voting scanners.

 

A breakdown of the votes from each of the assembly districts that make up NY-13 is provided above.

In the Republican Primary in New York’s 14th congressional district, which covers parts of Queens and some or all of the Bronx neighborhoods of Hunts Point, Clason Point, Castle Hill, Pelham Parkway, Baychester, Country Club, Unionport, Schuylerville, Throggs Neck, City Island, Parkchester, Co-Op City and Eastchester, Tina Forte led with 66.91 percent of the vote on Election Night.

 

By Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, she continued to lead with 67.13 percent of the vote based on 97.98 of returned voting scanners.

 

Breakdowns of the voter returns per borough and from each of the assembly districts which make up NY-14 are attached herewith.

 

If she wins, Forte will go up against incumbent Democratic congresswoman, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), who Republicans have long sought to oust from office, in the general election.

 

We reached out to the other main candidates in each race for a comment on Election Night. We did not receive an immediate response.

 

At P.S.105 poll site, located at 725 Brady Avenue in Assembly District 80, while some people from the community confirmed to Norwood News that they had voted, many others told us they had not been aware of the election.

 

Supporter of Rivera, Elizabeth Tavarez, from 1199 SEIU Home Care union, told Norwood News she believed the senator was the best person for the job in redrawn Senate District 33.

 

Meanwhile, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson voted at P.S. 105, having released a statement on Monday, encouraging Bronxites to ensure to vote on Election Day, amid reports that the borough had the lowest voter turn-out in terms of early voting.

 

“With so many of our long fought gains being called into question, it is important now more than ever for us to exercise our right to vote,” Gibson said on Monday.

 

According to NYC Board of Election tallies as of poll closure on Monday, Aug. 22, just 4,558 Bronxites had hit the polls, compared to 36,852 in Manhattan, 23,602 in Brooklyn, 6,423 on Staten Island, and 4,900 in Queens.

P.S. / M.S. 498 poll site, located at 1640 Bronxdale Avenue, also saw a sparse showing of voters on Primary Day.