Saturday marks the second primary election this summer.
“I’m concerned ‘cause a lot of people are away. It’s August,” Joan Dean, a volunteer for Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s campaign, said.
What You Need To Know
- Low turnout is expected for the second New York primary this summer
- State senate and congressional races are on the ballot this round for elections
- The New York Times endorsement went to Rep. Jerry Nadler in 12th Congressional District and to Dan Goldman in the 10th Congressional District
- Tens of thousands of absentee ballots were requested by voters
According to the Board of Elections, there were a total of 9,087 early voting check-ins for the August primary.
The few voters at the Hell’s Kitchen polling site have a tough choice to make.
“Two fierce fighters for New York and New York City are having to go up against each other. It’s a shame. It’s a tragedy,” voter Karin Schall said.
Reps. Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney, who have each been in Congress for 30 years, are now forced to compete in the newly redrawn 12th Congressional District — covering the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side and Midtown Manhattan.
The New York Times made endorsements for two of the must-watch political battles. The first endorsement went to Nadler.
“Elect me. I’ll go to the west side and I’ll build his rail freight tunnel that he hasn’t moved in 30 years. So vote for someone who works and gets the job done,” Maloney said.
Suraj Patel, who’s also running for Congress in that district with a message of change, says the Times’ endorsement is no surprise.
“Everyone expected on earth for an institution like the Times to go with an institution like Nadler, no shock there,” Patel said.
In the crowded race for the 10th Congressional District, covering Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, the New York Times endorsed former federal prosecutor Dan Goldman.
His competitors include current and former elected officials, such as Assemblymembers Yuh-Line Niou and Jo Anne Simon, Rep. Mondaire Jones, former Rep. Liz Holtzman and Councilmember Carlina Rivera.
“We have built an incredible coalition of people who are supporting me. Labor, elected officials, community leaders, we are feeling really good,” said Rivera.
Tens of thousands of absentee ballots were requested by voters who might be away from the city.
These votes might end up deciding these highly competitive races.
“It’s really about turnout and about ground game. And we have mobilizing voters and we’ve been hearing folks on the street and they’re so excited to vote for us,” Niou said.
Early voting runs through next week Sunday. Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 23.