Cornegy, Reynoso In The Lead In BK Borough President Race: Poll

BROOKLYN, NY — A new poll has revealed the frontrunners in the crowded race to become Brooklyn's next borough president.

The Benenson Strategy Group study, the first formal poll in the borough president race, shows that Council Members Antonio Reynoso and Robert Cornegy Jr. are in the lead to replace Eric Adams, who is running for mayor.

The poll, first reported on by BKLYNER, was completed on behalf of pro-charter school group StudentsFirstNY.

Each of the Brooklyn council members received 10 percent of the first-choice votes from the more than 500 Democratic primary voters surveyed who live in Brooklyn, according to the poll.

Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon was not far behind with 8 percent of the first-choice votes, followed by local organizers Khari Edwards and Kimberly Council, who had 7 percent each.

Half of voters, though, said they didn't know who they were voting for, according to the poll.

The poll surveyed a total of 1,558 Democratic voters about races across the city.

It also included simulations of rank-choice voting, which will be used in the June primaries. In that simulation, Reynoso beat out Cornegy after five rounds of voting.

The favorable results come despite the fact that Reynoso, who represents North Brooklyn, has spent less than half of the $400,000 spent by Cornegy, who represents Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights' 36th District, BKLYNER noted.

There are 12 candidates running for the Brooklyn borough president spot, according to the Board of Elections.

Borough presidents are responsible for advocating for their borough in the city's budget, appointing community board members, deciding on local initiatives and projects to fund and offering a vote on land-use items during the review process.

Find the full results from the poll here.