On the eve of Tuesday’s primary, all three Democratic candidates for governor made their final pitches to voters.
While Gov. Kathy Hochul has been running as the front runner and trying to take advantage of her incumbency, low turnout could make results unpredictable.
The day before the primary election, Hochul crisscrossed northern Manhattan, joined by Manhattan County Democratic Chair Keith Wright in Harlem, and Congressman Adriano Espaillat in Washington Heights — two Uptown powerbrokers who’ve helped crank out the vote in years past.
“I love doing the touching people on the streets. I do it all the time, just naturally,” Hochul said. “But here, right before the election, we are really fired up. A lot of energy out there. So, home stretch!”
Hochul’s facing a primary against two rivals, including Queens and Long Island Rep. Tom Suozzi, who has been running to Hochul’s right as he attempts to appeal to people’s concerns about rising crime rates.
“If the politicians don’t do what the people want, you throw them out of office,” Suozzi said while campaigning in Manhattan Tuesday. “That’s the purpose of democracy. And right now, our democracy is not working here in New York State. We have a rising crime level and people are scared about it. They are afraid to take the subway.”
Hochul also has a challenge to her left from Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. And while Williams had a good statewide showing when he ran for lieutenant governor four years ago, family issues have prevented him from campaigning at times this year, including a newborn baby at home and a spouse struck by illness.
“Well, we ran a real campaign,” Williams told NY1. “Obviously we’ve been open about many things that I was dealing with. And we use that as an opportunity to lift up issues that a lot of folks have been dealing with. But most importantly, I think people believe in our vision.”
Earlier in the day, Hochul was in Queens for an official government event, something she has done a lot of in recent weeks. Hochul signed a bill extending criminal penalties to anyone who attacks a transit worker.
NY1 asked if Hochul is concerned that early voting numbers were so low, with just 86,000 people voting here in the city, and roughly 178,000 statewide — that’s about just two percent of eligible primary voters.
“I don’t have a fear at all. It’s been hot out. It’s a strange time of the year to have an election. People are not accustomed to having elections in June. I think we are going to get the turnout we need,” Hochul said.
The primary is a big test for Hochul. It’s the first time she will be on the ballot as governor. While she is confident the support will be there for her, low turnout could also swing vote totals in unpredictable ways.
Asked about low voter turnout during early voting the last few days, @KathyHochul says she is not worried. She and @DelgadoforNY will get the support they need. Low turnout likely the result of hot temperatures and people not used to voting for statewide races in June. pic.twitter.com/BiD8t9V7dT
— Zack Fink (@ZackFinkNews) June 27, 2022