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Simon, Hamilton win in not-so-close races; Cuomo, Hochul prevail; indicted Sampson gets renominated

Perhaps endorsements were less important than longevity and local political activity in the community: , attorney and district leader Jo Anne Simon and lawyer and Senate staffer Jesse Hamilton easily won the Democratic nomination (tantamount to election) in the 52nd Assembly and 20th Senate districts, respectively.

As noted by the Times, Simon won 52.9% of the vote compared to 39.9% for Pete Sikora and 7.3% for Doug Biviano. Even had Sikora gotten Biviano's votes--and gadfly Biviano attacked Sikora, not Simon, more vigorously--Simon would have prevailed.

With nearly all the votes in, Hamilton got 64.9% of the vote, compared to 29.9% for Rubain Dorancy and 5.2% for Guillermo Philpotts, who was barely a campaign presence. That's a win for Borough President Eric Adams over Mayor Bill de Blasio, too.

Cuomo weakness emerges

In a seeming rebuke to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's very mixed record, especially on corruption issues, the incumbent won 62.1% of the vote to law professor Zephry Teachout's 34.2% and Randy Credico's 3.6%.

Cuomo's new running mage, Kathy Hochul won 59.9% against 40.1% for law professor Tim Wu, who got numerous endorsements.

Teachout won numerous counties and, as one supporter noted, Cuomo spent $48 per vote, while Teachout spent $2.70 per vote.
Seddio and Sampson

Politics as usual

Some incumbents under a cloud/indictment were dumped, like Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens, but indicted Brooklyn Sen. John Sampson easily won re-election, with 54.2% of the vote, while his nearest challenger, Dell Smitherman, got only 29.9%.

"Victory is for the people tonight," declared Sampson's Twitter account, which posted a picture of Sampson, a veteran of the powerful Thomas Jefferson Democratic Club, with County Democratic Leader Frank Seddio wearing a Re-elect John Sampson t-shirt.

Sampson was charged with embezzlement, obstruction of justice and witness tampering, accused of keeping $440,000 from the sale of a foreclosed properties while he was supposed to be a referee. He was also recorded making regarding cooperating witnesses.

Sampson also played a very curious role in marketing EB-5 investments to Chinese investors. And yes, there was 2009 fundraiser for him at Forest City Ratner offices.

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