Tuesday, Nov. 4, voters head to the polls for the midterm elections to decide the races for governor, state attorney general, comptroller and various congressional seats. With so many issues on the table across the city and state, voters are sure to let their voice be heard at the ballot box this election season.
GOVERNOR
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Republican candidate, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, go head-to-head this Tuesday in the governor’s race. According to polls leading up to the election, Cuomo shows a strong lead, with nearly 60 percent of voters favoring him.
Cuomo spent a whopping $28 million on his campaign, mostly riding the liberal wave of New York voters, touching most notably on women’s issues. He recently created the Women’s Equality Party. Cuomo is also running on the Working Families Party line.
Astorino has steadily shown only 30 percent support among voters, according to polls throughout the campaign. He is up for his own re-election as county executive in 2017. He is also running on the Conservative Party line.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
In the race for state attorney general, incumbent Eric Schneiderman is running for election to a second term in office. Schneiderman is using his history and strong stance against government corruption as a way to sway voters. Polls show him having a strong lead, with the latest poll putting him at 55 percent. John P. Cahill faces Schneiderman as the Republican candidate, while Bronx attorney Ramon Jimenez is also running in the attorney general race under the Green Party line.
COMPTROLLER
Incumbent Democrat Thomas DiNapoli is running against Republican Robert Antonacci. DiNapoli’s positive record with voters has given him a nearly 60 percent lead over his opponent, according to the latest polls. His Republican opponent, Antonacci, is the current comptroller for Onondaga County in upstate New York. DiNapoli is also running on the Independence Party and Working Families Party lines.
STATE SENATE
Several candidates are vying for state Senate spots. Notable races and candidates include former Queens City Council Member Leroy Comrie, who defeated Malcolm Smith during the primary elections. Smith is facing several charges of corruption, with a retrial for his case set for 2015.
Brooklyn state Sen. John Sampson remains on the ballot amid an indictment by a federal grand jury for embezzlement, obstruction of justice and making false statements to the FBI, stemming from alleged theft of $400,000 from the sale of foreclosed homes, to which he pled not guilty. Other races include Brooklyn state Sen. Kevin Parker, who is running against Conservative Party candidate Herman Hall; state Sen. Bill Perkins, who is facing Republican Party candidate Jon Girodes; and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who is running for Brooklyn’s District 35 Senate seat.
ASSEMBLY
Notable races to watch in the state Assembly include the District 42 race in Brooklyn, where Democrat Rodneyse Bichotte faces Republican candidate Matthew Williams and Conservative Party candidate Brian Kelly. In Brooklyn’s District 43 race, Democratic frontrunner Karim Camara faces Conservative Party candidate Cartrell Gore. Three women face off in Brooklyn’s District 55 race: Lori Boozer of the Working Families Party, Republican Brenda Jackson and Democrat Latrice Walker.
Former Brooklyn City Council Member Charles Barron is looking to take the seat vacated by his wife, Inez, who now serves in his City Council seat. He faces Republican candidate Leroy Bates Sr. in the 60th District race. Incumbent Keith Wright is in a race to keep his Assembly seat in Harlem in the 71st District. He faces Republican candidate Noni Moore. Favored candidate Michael Blake, looking to take the 76th District seat in the Bronx, faces two candidates: Republican Selsia Evans and Marsha Michael of the Working Families Party.
CONGRESS
Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is looking to remain in office representing Brooklyn’s 8th Congressional District. He faces Conservative Party candidate Alan Bellone. In the 9th Congressional District race in Brooklyn, Democratic incumbent Yvette Clark faces Conservative Party candidate Daniel Cavanagh.
Longtime Harlem Rep. Charlie Rangel is in the race to continue to represent the 13th Congressional District, facing Working Families Party candidate Kenneth Schaeffer and Green Party candidate Daniel Vila Rivera.