2018 Primary Results: Cuomo, James, Hochul Win While IDC Is Mostly Swept Out

Governor Andrew Cuomo voting in Mount Kisco, NY

Governor Andrew Cuomo won the Democratic primary on Thursday after a spirited challenge from actor-activist Cynthia Nixon. With 58.1% of precincts results in, Cuomo has 65.8% of the vote, to Nixon's 34.2%. Cuomo will face Republican Marc Molinaro in the general election on November 6th.

Tapping into a campaign war chest worth more than $30 million, Cuomo campaigned on his accomplishments over his two terms as governor—$15 minimum wage; gay marriage—and his willingness to oppose President Trump.

However, his poor stewardship of the MTA and the subway system, the corruption that plagued facets of his administration, and his tolerance of a Republican-controlled State Senate (and the "Independent Democratic Conference" [IDC} Senators who enabled them), left many left-leaning Democrats demanding more. Enter Nixon, who campaigned on a full-throated progressive platform, like taxing the rich to fund schools and legalizing marijuana. Nixon's promise to fix the subways rang true because unlike Cuomo she actually rides the subway.

Closer to the primary, it was revealed that a very close "former" aide of Cuomo's approved a sleazy flier accusing Nixon of anti-Semitism that went to 7,000 Orthodox voters, a surprising move since polls had Cuomo with a very comfortable lead ahead of Nixon.

The AP has called the Attorney General Democratic primary for Public Advocate Letitia James. She won a four-way race with 42.1% (75.3% of precincts reporting) over law professor Zephyr Teachout (30.8%), Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (24.0%), and former Cuomo aide Leecia Eve (3.3%).

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul fended off an impressive campaign by City Council Member Jumaane Williams, with 52.7% of the vote to his 47.3% (86.4% of precincts reporting).

Julia Salazar, a Democratic Socialist, beat establishment incumbent State Senator Martin Dilan, who represents North Brooklyn, 58.2% to 41.8% (90% of precincts reporting). Salazar's campaign picked up steam after fellow Democratic Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortz won the Democratic Congressional primary over Rep. Joe Crowley, but then a number of stories emerged forcing Salazar to repeatedly correct or clarify her biography. Dilan, for his part, had to answer for his reliance on campaign donations from the real estate industry.

There are more victories over former IDC candidates, who were targeted by progressives for their alliance with Senate Republicans: In Inwood and Washington Heights, former City Council Member Robert Jackson defeated State Senator Marisol Alcantara, 55.7% to 38.8% with 88.6% of precincts reporting. Alcantara's campaign (or its supporters) appeared to make a last-ditch desperate effort on Primary Day by telling voters the polls close at 7:30 p.m., 90 minutes before the actual closing time.

In a major turn, State Senator Jeff Klein, who led the breakaway Democrats in the IDC, lost his primary against Alessandra Biaggi in the Bronx.

NY1 also reports that Zellnor Myrie won the primary over incumbent IDC State Senator Jesse Hamilton of Brooklyn, while Jessica Ramos emerges the nominee over incumbent IDC State Senator Jose Peralta of Queens.

John Liu, the former City Council Member and City Comptroller, decided to run against IDC State Senator Tony Avella in July and, in just two and a half months, has become successful in his march back to public office: With 98.2% of precincts reporting, Liu took 52.9% of the vote while Avella held onto 47.1%—a margin of just under 1,300 votes.

Working Families Party Director Bill Lipton said of the candidates who won over IDC State Senators, "New York politics changed forever tonight. The IDC is dead. The center of gravity has shifted, and Andrew Cuomo will face a radically different Albany. For years, Cuomo, the IDC and the Republicans led a government which blocked countless progressive policies. Now, the WFP and a progressive insurgency has ended the IDC, and Cuomo will have to deal with something new for him after November: a Democratic legislature. A new generation of leaders are heading to Albany to fight for a New York that works for the many, not the fortunate few. We look forward to working with them to put a powerful, visionary, and progressive agenda on Cuomo's desk next year."

However, now-former IDC member Diane Savino of Staten Island won the Democratic primary with 66.9% over Jasmine Robinson (20.5%) and Brandon Stradford (12.6%).

Another controversial State Senate figure, incumbent Simcha Felder, won his primary over Blake Morris in Brooklyn's District 17, 62.3% to 38.5% with 94.4% of precincts reporting. Felder, a Democrat who has caucused with Republicans since 2012, will continue to give Republicans effective control of the Senate unless Democrats are able to flip one more seat in the general election.

We'll have more analysis tomorrow morning. The general election is November 6.