Adams narrowly wins Democratic mayoral nomination, after absentee tallies and RCV; Hudson, Reynoso issue statements

After absentee ballots were tallied and ranked choice voting calculations continued, former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia got closer to first-vote front-runner Eric Adams, but the Brooklyn Borough President prevailed in the Democratic primary for mayor, which is tantamount to victory.

Today’s tabs pic.twitter.com/2DBV0vPpWj

— Azi (@Azi) July 7, 2021

Writes Ross Barkan: 

Looming over this all is the failure of the media, writ large, to ask often about what kind of policy agenda Adams seeks for New York City. This is still, all these months later, largely undefined. Adams’ housing and education plans remain thinly-sketched. He campaigned mostly on public safety...

Adams was supported by the real-estate industry, though as we have seen, he's not in lockstep. 

But mayors like to cut ribbons and show tangible progress, so projects like Atlantic Yards may have more momentum--even as the next administration might take some guidance about where subsidies are deserved, as candidate Shaun Donovan suggested.

Meanwhile, a few statements below.

35th Council District

Crystal Hudson Wins Democratic Primary for City Council District 35

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Crystal Hudson, candidate for City Council District 35, released the following statement on her victory in the Democratic primary. Hudson will make history as the first openly gay Black woman elected to the City Council.

“Our lead has only grown since election night, and I’m so proud to announce our victory in this race. From NYCHA residents and religious leaders to labor unions and progressive movement builders, our campaign has built a strong, broad coalition over the past year and reached every corner of our incredibly diverse district. As a third-generation resident of this district, the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, caregiver for my mother, and the daughter of a nurse, I launched this campaign because I know all too well the challenges our community faces. I also know we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to not only ensure we recover from this crisis, but rebuild the right way — guided by the principles of equity, justice, and better opportunities for all of us.

“I am so grateful for the work of our hundreds of volunteers and the backing of our nearly 100 endorsers, including unions, community-based organizations, tenant leaders, and elected officials. We are now over 15,000 strong having received one of the highest vote totals of any Council candidate citywide with the most first- and second-choice votes across this district. In a time of great division and negativity, we ran a positive and unifying campaign rooted in love, justice, and respect. And that is exactly how we will lead. I want to sincerely thank the other candidates in this race, including Renee Collymore, Curtis Harris, Michael Hollingsworth, Regina Kinsey, Deirdre Levy, and Hector Robertson. Running for office is incredibly difficult and I know there is much more that unites than divides us. I look forward to working together to fight for solutions to the most pressing issues facing our community.

“Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, our win — and the wins of so many progressives across the city — is a mandate for our vision: universal housing for all, equitable schools, an end to racist policing, real investment in Black and brown communities, worker justice, dignity and wellness for our seniors, and a recovery that centers and uplifts the most vulnerable among us. That work has just begun.”

Brooklyn Borough President

Antonio Reynoso Wins Democratic Primary for Brooklyn Borough President

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — With absentee ballots counted and preliminary RCV results in, Antonio Reynoso has won the Democratic primary for Brooklyn Borough President. Reynoso, who will make history as the first Latino Brooklyn Borough President, released the following statement.

“Our campaign was always about building a Brooklyn for all of us — no matter your race, your background, or what zip code you live in — and I’m so honored by the support that brought us to this victory today. We put forward a vision for a more equitable, more just borough where all people can thrive, and through our broad, incredibly diverse coalition of unions, community organizations, and progressive leaders we were able to reach voters from Greenpoint to Coney Island to Flatbush and beyond. I want to thank my supporters — to anyone who knocked on a door, joined a phone bank, made a donation, texted a friend, or stood outside a poll site, thank you for the integral role you played in getting us here. With this win, we can continue our work to deliver affordable housing in every neighborhood, fully-funded schools, healthcare justice, real action to address police brutality and violence, support for our seniors, and a recovery that uplifts communities of color, immigrants, and working people.

“Growing up on Williamsburg’s South side, our family didn’t have much — we depended on food stamps and Section 8 housing to get by — and I saw first-hand the challenges that our working families face, from the toxic effects of environmental racism to the inequities in our school system to brutality at the hands of the NYPD. I’ve spent my life giving back to the community that made me who I am and striving to make it a better place for all of us. This is a turning point for our city, and we have the opportunity to fight for not only a just recovery that centers communities of color and those most harmed by this pandemic, but real, systemic change to address the racial, social, and economic inequities that got us here in the first place.

“It has been a long road to get here, and I want to thank the other candidates in this race for running positive, hard-fought campaigns focused on improving the lives of our fellow Brooklynites. We share many of the same progressive values, and together I know we can put forward real solutions to the issues facing our communities and build a stronger future for our borough. Whether I was your number one, number two, or none of the above, I look forward to working with all communities and all neighborhoods across this borough to create a Brooklyn for all of us.”