New York Primary results: Letitia James wins Democrat race for attorney general after Andrew Cuomo takes governor race against Cynthia Nixon
The wave of progressive newcomers threaten to shake up Albany establishment, with Letitia James and Julia Salazar securing seats in New York's Democratic primaries
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Your support makes all the difference.Andrew Cuomo has won the Democrat primary for New York governor, defeating challenger Cynthia Nixon after a highly anticipated election.
Mr Cuomo's win has not come as a surprise, with far greater financial resources going into the race, and polls suggesting he held a strong lead before voting began.
His challenger, Ms Nixon, an activist and star of Sex and the City, had hoped to become the latest liberal challenger to unseat a powerful insider in Albany's Democratic establishment. The night did award some progressive candidates, however, including a State Senate seat for first-time Latina candidate, 27-year-old Julia Salazar, as well as Letitia James, New York's public advocate, who will now serve as the state attorney general.
Mr Cuomo's campaign dismissed Ms Nixon as inexperienced and touted the governor's work to push back against President Donald Trump.
His victory comes despite several missteps, including a widely condemned mailer that questioned Ms Nixon's support for Jewish people. She has two Jewish children and called the attack “sleazy.”
Mr Cuomo will face Republican Marc Molinaro and independent Stephanie Miner in November's general election.
Ms Nixon endorsed several progressive candidates vying for positions in Thursday’s election, including Zephyr Teachout, who ran against Ms James for state attorney general, as well as Jumaane Williams, who ran for lieutenant governor.
The Democratic Party’s primaries took most of the state's media focus for the day, with just one Republican vying for the governor’s seat. Marc Molinaro, a Dutchess County executive and former member of the New York State Assembly, has also criticised the two-term Democratic incumbent over his handling of the city’s subway system and other major issues.
Follow along with The Independent’s live updates throughout the night, as New Yorkers decide the outcome of the crucial 2018 primaries.
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Nixon told The Independent earlier this week that a loss would not mean the end of her political career.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was a no-show at his own election night victory party and instead celebrated his win over activist and actress Cynthia Nixon at the governor's mansion in Albany.
The Democrat was expected to attend his party's election night event in Manhattan on Thursday. But a spokeswoman said he chose to be with family.
↵Julia Salazar has tweeted a celebratory message after defeating a longtime incumbent for a State Senate seat in New York's Democratic primaries.
Cynthia Nixon has called Andrew Cuomo to congratulate him on his victory, according to multiple sources reporting the activist candidate will concede momentarily.
Cynthia Nixon congratulated Andrew Cuomo in a speech conceding her defeat for the Democratic nomination, noting the two-term incumbent governor's campaign "spent accordingly" in the race.
The defeated gubernatorial candidate has shouted out Zephyr Teachout, who ran against Letitia James for attorney general, as well as Humane Williams, who ran against Kathy Hochul for lieutenant governor, in her concession speech.
"We started with nothing and we earned every single vote,” Cynthia Nixon said Thursday. “We had fundamentally changed the political landscape in this state."
Incumbent lieutenant governor Kathy Hochul has announced her victory against progressive opponent Jumaane Williams, who was endorsed by a slate of popular New York candidates vying to shake up New York's Democratic establishment.
Jumaane Williams, who caused a contentious election in an otherwise quiet race for the state’s lieutenant governor position, came within a few percentage points of securing the role against incumbent Kathy Hochul.
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