Over half a million New Yorkers took to the polls on Election Day to cast their ballots in various State, congressional and judicial primaries. In the State Comptroller’s Democratic primary, 522,994 New Yorkers cast their vote, while in the sole Republican Primary for State Assembly in A.D. 86 in The Bronx, 188 people voted.

 

Total voting check-ins as of 6 p.m. for The Bronx totalled 44, 965, while 4,359 Bronxites mailed-in their ballots.

 

The results of the State Comptroller’s Democratic primary as well as the various Bronx Democratic and Republican primaries are attached.

 

The race to watch was the Democratic primary in New York’s 13th congressional district which was won, as reported, by challenger Darializa Avila Chevalier, unseating longtime incumbent Congressman Adriano Espaillat. Read more here.

Locally, Congressman Ritchie Torres saw off his nearest challenger Rev. Michael Blake in New York’s 15th congressional district, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) won his Democratic primary defeating challenger Morgan Evers, and State Sen. Robert Jackson won his Democratic primary in Senatorial District 31. As reported, Jackson had endorsed Avila Chevalier in the NY-13 race.

 

Blake later said, “The Bronx is my forever love. Thank you for being a light. Our KAIROS will emerge. Grateful for every person who knocked, called, donated, endorsed and believed. Love you. Thank you!”

 

On June 24, Torres shared his reaction to his win, saying in part, Yesterday, the Bronx spoke clearly. I am so proud to have earned over 70% of the vote and to continue representing the borough that raised me in Washington, DC.”

 

The congressman continued, “The Bronx is representative of America as a multiracial, multiethnic, multireligious, multilingual democracy. In the Bronx, we are a family. We are Black and white, Latino and Asian. We are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu. We are one Bronx.”

 

He added, “Every part of this borough came together and proved that there is so much more that ties us together than separates us, and no amount of hate will ever take that from us. The Bronx deserves a fighter in DC, and I am proud to continue carrying that mantle.”

The congressman later added the attached statement.

 

Those who have criticized what they see as the disproportionate military response by the Israeli government in Palestine following the Oct. 7th 2023 attacks in Southern Israel are frequently branded as anti-Semitic.

A little further afield, Congresswoman Alessandria Ocasio-Cortez won her Democratic primary in New York’s 14th congressional district with 86% of the vote, seeing off challengers, Felipe Garcia (6.7%) and Marty Dolan (5.9%).

 

The congresswoman and so-called “Squad” leader, said, “What a night in NYC! First, I want to deeply thank the people of NY14, who supported my re-election with 87% of the vote – the highest in my history of public service. It is a tremendous honor and responsibility to be your Congresswoman, and I never take it for granted.”

 

She continued, “Second, I want to congratulate our entire slate of endorsed state candidates. Together, we won 100% our 14 endorsed races. From new faces to strong incumbents, together we can fight for working people – and win. We are lucky to send these fighters and more to Albany.”

 

Ocasio-Cortez concluded, “Lastly, I want to offer my congratulations to @claireforny, @DarializaforNY, @CaitforNewYork, @bradlander, and @MicahLasher on their impressive primary victories last night. I look forward to working together as a delegation as we fight for working families across New York.” She also added an emoji of the Statue of Liberty. 

 

Jackson later shared the attached statement on his win, after confirming that he had taken a day or two to grieve the death of his brother around Election Day. He also used the occasion to congratulate Avila Chevalier, who, as reported, he had endorsed in the race.

 

Conceding the race on Election Night from The Bronx Alehouse at 216 West 238th Street in Kingsbridge, Evers said, “I’m really proud of the campaign we put out, and I’m happy because this campaign, with all of your help, we knocked 36,000 doors and we made 6,000 phone calls.”

 

Evers continued in part, “I was one of only five candidates in the State for assembly who maxed out in the first round of public matching funds, and I’m really proud of my endorsements, and most of all, I am so proud that I call myself a Working People’s Party champion.”

 

The candidate continued, “Because I wanted a real grassroots campaign, and I wanted to talk to every single voter and hear what was on their mind, and do my best to represent them, this is the beginning of our movement. I need to give more stats…” She said 90% of donations that she received for the campaign were from in-district people.”

 

She added, “So that’s why I’m so proud of you all for standing with me because this is who I am, a regular person who goes to work and takes care of their family. That’s the type of people I want to see representing me and I didn’t see it so I wanted to be [one] for everyone in the district and everyone in The Bronx, just like someone who thinks about regular life and not corporations and lobbyists.”

 

Evers concluded, “We were outspent in this campaign three to one by dark money. We are just getting started.”

 

Meanwhile, Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11) later said of his father’s victory, “I am so incredibly proud of the Ben Franklin Club team. Our slate, led by @JeffreyDinowitz, demonstrates time and again what it means to put community front and center, and to put work behind your rhetoric.”

 

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33), who had backed Evers in the assembly race, released the attached statement after Election Day.

 

In the race for State Committee in A.D. 81, Johanna Edmondson (31%) and Michael Heller (29%) were reelected, and in the District Leader race for A.D. 81, Abigail Martin (30%) and Ben Jackson 27%) were also reelected.

 

Heller, Edmondson, and Jackson are members of the Benjamin Franklin Reform Democratic Club, while Martin is a member of the Unity Democratic Club.

 

Martin later said, “To the voters of the 81st Assembly District: thank you. I am honored that you have entrusted me with another term as your District Leader.”

 

She continued, “To those who supported the Community First Democrats—thank you. Whether you volunteered your limited time to knock on doors or contributed to our campaign, your support is incredibly humbling.”

 

Martin continued, “I’d like to congratulate my running mates, Izaiah Zeek Barrow, Bereket Ghebremedhin, and Betsey Knapp.”

 

She added, “While we were hoping for different results on Tuesday, together we showed that grassroots organizing and community-powered campaigns can win. Both Betsey and Izaiah won County Committee!”

 

Martin continued, “I’d also like to congratulate Morgan Evers on her run for State Assembly. Morgan, a blind woman, a teacher, and mother of two, stepped up to serve her community, and while she didn’t prevail, I’m in awe of her bravery and hard work.”

 

The district leader concluded, “Thank you, 81st Assembly District. I’m honored to serve you. If you see me in the community, make sure to say hello! ❤️ Abigail”

 

For his part, Barrow, who was recently honored by Bronx Community Board 8 for his community service, said Wednesday, June 24, “The last several months have been nothing short of amazing. A simple carpenter from Kingsbridge with no political background, just a love for his community, a strong work ethic, and a vision for something greater, I aimed for the moon and landed among the stars. While this wasn’t the outcome we hoped for, I’m proud of what we built together. Thank you to every supporter, volunteer, friend, neighbor, and family member who believed in us.”

 

The first time district leader candidate added, “This campaign was powered by sweat equity, grassroots organizing, and people who genuinely care about their community. Congratulations to all the candidates who stepped up and gave it their all. I’m taking the lessons learned, the relationships built, and the insight gained back to the neighborhood, back to the work, and back to the drawing board. What started with wanting to bring representation to Kingsbridge ended with me now representing my part of Kingsbridge. But the vision is clearer, I want to represent the entire A.D. 81. This is not the end; it’s just the beginning.”

 

Ben Jackson later released the attached statement on his reelection win.

More reaction to follow.