Sep 10, 2014 4 min read l. rickie tulloch

Primary Coverage: Cuomo Defeats Teachout, Rodneyse Bichotte Wins 42nd Assembly District Race

After what a number of outlets reported to be an abysmal turnout at the polls yesterday (including anecdotes from neighbors saying they saw very few, if any, fellow voters at their poll sites), Governor Andrew Cuomo handily won the Democratic primary, landing 327,150 votes – 62.11 percent of the ballots cast for governor, according to unofficial results reported by WNYC. His main challenger, Fordham law professor Zephyr Teachout, received 180,336 votes – or 34.24 percent. The third candidate, Randy Credico, received 19,201, or 3.65 percent.

Kathy Hochul, as expected, won her bid for lieutenant governor, receiving 59.88 percent of the vote, compared to challenger Tim Wu’s 40.12 percent.

Cuomo landed more support in Brooklyn than in Manhattan, with our borough’s voters casting 61,910 votes for him – or 67.8 percent of the borough’s vote, according to this map from the New York Times. Meanwhile, there were 41,274 Manhattan voters who supported Cuomo – or 54.9 percent of that borough’s vote. Teachout landed the most support in the city in Manhattan, receiving 32,158 votes – 42.7 percent of the vote. Cuomo landed about 66.4 percent of the vote in Staten Island and was overwhelmingly supported in the Bronx, where the governor received 81.8 percent of the vote.

“Today’s outcome is a testament to the progress we have made together over the last four years: restoring economic opportunity, replacing dysfunction with results, putting people before politics and re-establishing New York as a progressive leader for the nation,” Cuomo said in a statement last night.

“I also want to congratulate Zephyr Teachout and Tim Wu on running a spirited campaign, engaging in the democratic process and having the courage to make their voices heard,” Cuomo said in the same statement.

Photo via Zephyr Teachout

Teachout, meanwhile, thanked supporters on Facebook, saying, “you actually are the heart of what we did. You are a powerful fearless fighting force that will hold power to account, and proved that there is power in traditional Democratic values. He beat us 2 to 1 after spending millions, and look at where we won outright!” Teachout then listed a series of counties that backed her.

Cuomo will now go on to face Republican Rob Astorino in November’s general election.

Astorino, the Westchester County executive, issued a statement to the press last night and congratulated Teachout and Credico “for an exciting and hard fought primary contest.”

“I ask their voters to join me now in the fight to clean up the Albany corruption and pay-to-play politics that is dragging this state to its knees morally and economically,” Astorino went on to say.

Meanwhile, in our neck of the woods, Democratic District Leader Rodneyse Bichotte claimed victory in Tuesday’s primary for the 42nd Assembly District (which covers Ditmas Park, Flatbush, and Midwood), garnering 49.73 percent of the vote in a contentious race that included a candidate being edged off the ballot and an explosive lawsuit.

Photo via Rodneyse Bichotte

Bichotte, who landed the support of Mayor Bill de Blasio, among a slew of other high-profile elected officials, received 2,669 votes, while L. Rickie Tulloch, who was backed by the elected official who now represents the seat, Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs, came in second, with 1,592 votes – 29.66 percent of the vote. Michele Adolphe landed 800 votes, or 14.91 percent, and Victor Jordan came in last with 306 votes, or 5.7 percent.

“We did it!” Bichotte, who held her election night party at Tonel Restaurant in Flatbush, said in a statement to the press, which was headlined, “Victory is ours! A new era begins.”

“I am humbled and exceedingly grateful to have received the confidence of the people of the 42nd Assembly District to serve as their next assemblywoman in the New York State Assembly,” said Bichotte, who ran one of the most vocal campaigns, often issuing releases about a variety of endorsements, including from city Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Letitia James, Councilman Jumaane Williams, and others.

“Over the past few months leading to today’s victory, our campaign has put together a widespread coalition of elected officials, unions, clergy, and non-profits who believe that our community is in dire need of leadership in the state assembly that will put their best interests at heart,” Bichotte continued.

Bichotte, who faces Republican Matthew G. Williams and Conservative Brian Kelly in November’s general election, also congratulated her “fellow candidates for a robust campaign in which we vigorously discussed the issues that face our community on a daily basis.”

“But now is the time to put campaign politics aside and set the focus on building up and empowering our community with greater opportunity,” Bichotte said. “I also want to thank retiring Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs for her longstanding dedication and record of service to the people of this community. I look forward to working with her as we begin this process of transition.

Much of the campaign hinged upon debate over affordable housing, with all of the candidates listing creating and maintaining affordable housing as one of their top priorities in a district that is experiencing spiking housing costs. Bichotte continued that message in her victory statement, along with touching upon several other issues, including education.

“As a candidate, I promised residents that I would devote all of my resources and energy in Albany on building up our community with increased economic opportunity, affordable housing, and bettering the quality of education,” Bichotte said. “The journey towards delivering and achieving those goals begins today.”