Primary day for NYS offices

In the first political tally since last week’s Supreme Court overruling Roe v. Wade, New Yorkers take to polls in primary day for state offices.

Or should I say don’t take to the polls, since projections put the turn out at roughly 12% of the voting public.

Both Republican and Democratic parties have primary contests for governor, lieutenant governor and state Assembly.

In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Gov. Kathy Hochul will attempt to fend off a pair of challengers to earn a full term in office – Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Rep. Tom Suozzi.

On the other side of the aisle, Rep. Lee Zeldin (D-Suffolk), former White House staffer Andrew Giuliani, businessman Harry Wilson, and former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino are vying for the GOP nod.

Only 87,000 Big Apple residents made use of early voting from June 18 through Sunday, according to the city Board of Elections. That figure represents just 2% of all eligible voters.

While Democrats are expected to use the Roe v. Wade ruling to energize their base in the midterms this fall, this primary comes up too close for any real campaigning on the issue, so it could be a bellwether for instant reaction from Dems.

“Trump backlash is what contributed to lefty wins in the aftermath of 2016,” Political consultant Jake Dilemani of Mercury Public Affairs explained. “Also, does turnout for Democrats increase beyond the estimates campaigns have been working with because of increased Dem enthusiasm?”

Polls in New York open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m.