Make Your Voice Heard! – Early Voting Begins in NYC Council Democratic Primaries

Make Your Voice Heard! – Early Voting Begins in NYC Council Democratic Primaries 

By:  Hadassa Kalatizadeh

The redistricting in the New York City Council has led to some close races in the upcoming June 27 Democratic primary elections.

As reported by the NY Post, last year’s remapping of legislative districts has led to an election cycle just two years after the 2021 elections. Early voting in the elections began on Saturday, June 17^th and end on Sunday, June 25^th.

Here’s what to expect in NYC Council primaries:

https://nypost.com/2023/06/11/what-to-expect-in-nyc-council-primaries-as-early-voting-opens-saturday/

The upcoming elections will be the second time that the city Board of Elections will use rank-choice voting to name a winner, if the leading candidate receives less than 50 percent of the votes.

The primaries will include at least 10 competitive races throughout NYC.  In Central Harlem, the Democratic primary will have three main contenders, after Democratic socialist Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan recently made a surprise announcement that she will not be seeking re-election.  Candidates for the 9th District seat include:  Assemblywoman Inez Dickens , who currently serves in the 70th district including Harlem, and formerly served in the 9th district;  Assemblyman Al Taylor, who has represented the 71st Assembly District of Upper Manhattan since 2017; and Yusef Salaam, who  was among five teens exonerated in the infamous Central Park 5 rape case which occurred in 1989, when he was 15.  Salaam is now an award-winning motivational speaker, author and coach.  The race is slated to be a close call between Dickens and Salaam, who has backing from progressive voters as well as from Democratic Party leader Keith Wright.

Click here for your polling location:

https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/

As per the Post, a heated race is also expected for District 1, representing downtown Manhattan, the Lower East Side and Chinatown.  The Democratic primary will have incumbent Chris Marte facing off against Susan Lee and Ursila Juny.  Both are considered major challengers and have qualified for public matching funds.

Enter your address to see who the candidates are in your area:

https://www.nycvotes.org/meet-the-candidates/2023-primary-election/plan-your-ballot/

A new seat will also be contested in the Southern parts of Brooklyn, for District 43, to represent the 54% Asian communities of Bensonhurst, New Utrecht and parts of Dyker Heights and Sunset Park.  The three candidates are Wai Yee Chan, Stanley Ng and Susan Zhuang.  The new seat will also have a Republican primary, with two candidates as well.

In Brooklyn’s District 42, the Democratic primary will be a close match up against incumbent Charles Barron, a former Black Panther party member who has experience representing the district in both City Hall and the House since 2002, versus Chris Banks, a union-backed challenger.  Per the Post, both candidates have raised roughly $80,000 for the race.  Brooklyn’s district 41, representing Brownsville and Bedford-Stuyvesant, also is expecting a showdown in the Democratic primary.  Councilwoman Darlene Mealy, who is serving her third term, faces two challengers including: Isis McIntosh Green, who is backed by the Working Families Party and several unions, and Jamilah Rose, a grant writer.

These are the 21 competitive races in the upcoming primaries:

https://www.nycvotes.org/meet-the-candidates/2023-primary-election/june-2023-races/

The Bronx’s district 13, which includes Throggs Neck, Pelham Bay, Morris Park, Westchester Square and City Island, also is set for a Democratic primary.  Democratic incumbent Marjorie Velázquez, who won the 2021 general election by 10 points, faces challengers: Irene Estrada, chairwoman of Bronx Community Board 11,  activist Bernadette Ferrara, and Army vet John Perez.  Velazquez is expected to keep the seat.