Hudson Valley Primary Guide 2018

PELHAM, NY — The New York primary elections are Thursday, Sept. 13. There are primaries for Democrats, Conservatives, Working Family and Reform party members.

Want to write in a candidate?

There's a space on the paper ballot designated for write-ins. Write the name of the person you'd like. Check with their campaign to find out the exact, full name.

Polls (check with your county board of elections for where) are open as follows:

• 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester,
• 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Columbia, Greene, Sullivan, Ulster

Who's who in the primaries:

Governor

Andrew Cuomo is seeking a third term leading the Empire State government as he continues to raise his national profile. He's stood by his record as a progressive who gets things done, touting accomplishments such as New York's legalization of same-sex marriage, progress toward a $15-an-hour minimum wage and the SAFE Act, one of the nation's strictest gun-control laws.

He's also made big investments in infrastructure. On Friday he marked the opening of the second span of the new bridge across the Tappan Zee, which has been named for his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

But none of that has stopped Cynthia Nixon from trying to capitalize on the anger of his many critics. She's lambasted his neglect of the New York City subways, corruption in his administration (two of his onetime associates were convicted in separate corruption cases this year), and his friendliness to corporate interests.

Nixon, making her first run for public office, has put forward several left-wing policy proposals that distinguish her from the governor, such as a "polluter fee" to fund the subways and allowing public employees to go on strike.

Much of the political establishment has lined up behind Cuomo, who has also won several newspaper endorsements. He's also had a big lead in the polls, with a July 31 Siena College poll showing him more than 30 points ahead of Nixon.

But Nixon has support from some elected officials and left-wing groups such as the New York City Democratic Socialists of America. Her campaign argues that polls aren't capturing the anti-incumbent wave that has shown up across the country.

Nixon, along with the Republican candidate for governor — Marc Molinaro, the Dutchess County Executive — have called for investigations into why the second span of the new Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge failed to open Saturday due to safety concerns about a remnant of the old Tappan Zee Bridge.

Lieutenant Governor

Kathy Hochul is seeking a second term as Cuomo's second-in-command. The former U.S. representative has largely hitched her wagon to the governor's, arguing that she'll keep up efforts to take on Republican President Donald Trump.

But Hochul is facing a much more competitive challenge from Jumaane Williams, a third-term councilman who has joined forces with Nixon. He wants to use the lieutenant governor's position to advocate for progressive issues and reportedly criticize the governor when necessary.

While Hochul has the Democratic establishment firmly behind her, Williams only trailed her by nine points in the July Siena poll. An endorsement from The New York Times on Thursday also gave him some momentum going into the election.

Primaries for lieutenant governor are unusual because the winner runs with the gubernatorial nominee as a team in the general election. That means Williams and Cuomo — or, theoretically, Hochul and Nixon — could end up as running mates even though they're on opposite sides of the primary fight.

Attorney General

Cuomo talks often about fighting Trump, but Eric Schneiderman took that fight to the courts before he resigned in disgrace. His immediate successor, Barbara Underwood, has continued the state's legal combat on issues ranging from immigration to environmental policies.

The four Democratic candidates for Underwood's job also want to continue that fight, but each brings a different background to the table.

Letitia James, backed by Cuomo and the state Democratic Party, is in her second term as public advocate, a job to which she ascended after serving on the City Council. Earlier in her career she was a Legal Aid lawyer and led the attorney general's Brooklyn regional office.

Leecia Eve, a Buffalo native, is currently the vice president of government affairs for Verizon. But she has also worked in the Cuomo administration and for Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton when they were senators.

Sean Patrick Maloney is a congressman representing the 18th Congressional District in the Hudson Valley, an office he's running simultaneously to keep this year. He's the first openly gay U.S. representative from New York and previously worked for former governors Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson. Maloney was also a senior advisor in the Clinton administration.

Zephyr Teachout, who's backed by Nixon, is a professor at Fordham Law School who specializes in political corruption. She also ran a left-wing primary challenge to Cuomo in 2014 and made an unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2016.

James emerged as an early frontrunner as she secured party backing. She led the Siena poll with support from 25 percent of likely voters, though 42 percent were undecided.

But Teachout may have the advantage going into the primary. The other candidates have reportedly been targeting her in debates, which could indicate she's the one to beat. And she recently picked up The New York Times' endorsement, which could distinguish her in the crowded field.

State Legislature

Senate

District 34

Jeffrey Klein, the incumbent, has come under fire from fellow Democrats for his creation and leadership of the Independent Democratic Conference, which rejected the senate’s Democratic leadership for seven years before dissolving in April. His challenger is Alessandra Biaggi, who was born in Mount Vernon and raised in Pelham.

“There are five times as many Democrats as Republicans in District 34 and yet for seven years, my opponent led the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of 8 New York state senators who ran and were elected as Democrats, but then went to Albany to caucus and vote only with Republicans, handing control of the State Senate to the GOP. They did this out of self-interest,” she says on her website. “I’m running because the people of the Bronx and Westchester deserve better representation than they currently have. The future of the Democratic party is inclusive, diverse and compassionate – it is not backroom deals and four-men in a room.”

The New York Times endorsed her.

District 38

David Carlucci, the incumbent, also faces a female Democratic challenger angry that he was a member of the Independent Democratic Conference. Julie Goldberg launched a challenge in the spring. Both are Rockland County residents. The bizarrely-drawn 38th comprises the towns of Clarkstown, Orangetown and Ramapo in Rockland County and, on the other side of the Hudson River, the town of Ossining in Westchester County.

SEE: Goldberg Launches Campaign Challenge To Carlucci

District 40

Two Dems are vying for the chance to oppose state Sen. Terrence Murphy in November in this sprawling district, which includes parts of Northern Westchester (Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, North Salem, Peekskill, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, Sleepy Hollow, Somers, Yorktown), Putnam (Brewster, Carmel, Patterson, Southeast), and Dutchess (Beekman, Pawling) counties.

Robert Kesten began a grassroots campaign in the district a year ago. Peter Harckham, a former Westchester County legislator, entered the race in May.

Assembly

District 97

The Reform Party is holding a primary in this section of Rockland County, with incumbent Ellen Jaffee challenged by Rosario Presti Jr.

Local races

Putnam County Executive

There are two primaries which are opportunities for write-ins. For registered Conservatives, County Executive MaryEllen Odell is on the ballot plus a write-in opportunity. For registered members of the Women’s Equality Party, challenger Maureen Fleming is on the ballot and there’s a write-in opportunity there too.

Mount Pleasant

Mike Duffy is challenging incumbent Judge Mark Rubeo for Town Justice.

Village of Ossining

Mayor Victoria P. Gearity is running for re-election. She is being challenged by a fellow member of the village Board of Trustees -- Omar J. Herrera. There are two primaries, for Democrats and for members of the Working Families Party.

Spring Valley

Two people are running in a Democratic primary for the unexpired term on the Spring Valley village Board of Trustees: Zach Clerina and Yisroel Eisenbach.