How is it that the Times is trumpeting Cuomo’s “landslide” victory when Cynthia Nixon’s percentage of the vote was even larger than Zephyr Teachout’s in the 2014 primary, which was seen as an embarrassment for Cuomo? His choice for AG, Tish James, won with a minority of the total votes cast ; if the late-breaking Siena poll had accurately reflected Teachout’s lead, more people might have stayed with her instead of switching their vote to the apparent front-runner, Sean Patrick Maloney, in an effort to defeat James. Fear drove the unions and others to support Cuomo — he won because vulnerable institutions thought he would win. But Cuomo’s sore-winner gloating, including his imperious refusal to even make an appearance on election night, only reinforces the reason so many quietly voted against him. Cynthia Nixon should indeed continue the fight and remain on the WFP line. If she does not, he still has plenty of competition : the Democratic and progressive vote may well go to former Democratic Syracuse mayor Stephanie Minor (famously snubbed by Cuomo in favor of a Republican county official) and Green Howie Hawkins. If that elects Republican Mark Molinaro, well, compared to Cuomo, he’s progressive enough.
1
Don’t draw such a distinction between “the left” and democrats. That happened in 2016 to the eternal regret of the entire world. Democrats are left enough for now. The point - you all remember the point of all this, right?- is to unseat every republican right wing jackal in the country.
November 6 2018. Be there. Aloha.
1
Maybe Nixon lost on substance? Socialism is popular only as long as it's financed with other people's money. Nixon wanted to spend so much that it was obvious everyone would have to chip in.
2
As someone else noted and as was reported in the Gothamist, this primary had record turnout, which didn't seem to be worth noting by the NYT's.
Turnout in off election year primaries is alway low, so beating the record should be over read.
But, a la Hillary's loss in 2016, come the general election, record turnouts may just mean a lot more Democratic voters in solid blue Senate and Congressional races, that will actually be 'wasted' votes. Because, if there is like energized voter turn out by the Republicans - which is highly likely - the 'Blue Wave' may be countered by a 'Red Surge', especially in pivotal swing states and districts. That may be just enough to keep the House and Senate in Republican control.
I believe the expression for that is schadenfreude.
1
Most interesting thing to me is that Cuomo, James lost every country anywhere near Albany. Not exactly bastions of liberalism, but perhaps familiarity breeds contempt.
3
@Teresa Holliday
I noticed the same thing.
To me, its really telling when the 'deep' state of NYS government workers in the Albany area, who are predominantly all Democratic party loyalist and hacks, have such disdain for one of their own that they voted for Nixon over Cuomo. It speaks volumes as to how great Cuomo's much touted 'experience' really isn't when it comes to managing NYS.
2
I am 0 for 3 in the Democratic primaries but you better believe come November I am voting a straight Democratic ticket.
5
This time, at least, that’s the important thing.
I’ll bet I’m not the only cynical grouch who finds the whole “Joan of Arc” shtick annoying, even when it’s true(ish). But Zephyr Teachout seems like the real deal, despite the name her parents chose at Woodstock. If nasty coots like me can support her, maybe it’s worth somebody’s while to figure out how to keep her in the mix. With another four years of “gravitas” (needed or not) who knows how far she’ll go? She’ll still be young (by my standards).
2
And yet beyond a doubt something is rotten in albany
All of this talk of "experience." Hmm. While important, I don't think that the experience has to be political. I'm not sure the founders wanted an entrenched, corrupt political class (Cuomo). They wanted a government of the people, BY the people, for the people. We need candidates with more diverse experience than politics itself. People dismissed Nixon because she's just another celeb--but only an outsider with independent name recognition and support can have a hope against an incumbent machine like Cuomo's. I'm glad she ran. I hope she made him lose at least a little sleep.
4
Nixon lost not because of her progressive politics or because of New Yorker's love for the incumbent. Nixon lost because New Yorkers already know what can happen when a television personality with no governmental experience becomes the chief executive, and we are loathe to see that happen again. Nixon should cut her political teeth in the City Council or Assembly, perhaps, and then, if she does well and learns how the wheels of government turn, she can run for higher office in several years' time.
8
@Jay
She’s not really interested in statewide office, and I think she never was, and never will be in Albany. So forget about a future run for the NYS Assembly or Senate.
NYC Council? Too low profile. Public Advocate? Far better choices than her.
No, This was all about boosting her name recognition as a leading “progressive” in a run up to the next NYC Mayor’s race.
2
@Jay
I agree completely. When Ms. Nixon announced her candidacy I thought "The woman from Sex and the City, seriously?". However, I was impressed with Ms. Nixon during the course of her campaign and think she potentially has a lot to offer. Had she held a local or state office of note previously I would have felt more comfortable giving her a chance at being Governor, but, as you said, a poor precedent has been set for electing celebrities with no governmental experience. I applaud Ms. Nixon for her efforts and encourage her to stay involved and run for a different position next time to further prove her mettle.
@Jay — Love? Cuomo? Nobody loves Cuomo — you can’t even write his name in the same sentence as that word. People fear Cuomo. Electeds in my county wondered aloud about what would happen to us if we went for his opponent again. Nixon's inexperience had nothing to do with her loss. Unlike virtually all the inexperienced candidates who had surprise victories, Nixon was white. As recent Times articles pointed out, that wasn’t outsider enough for some progressives and ethnic voters.
On the plus side Cuomo will eventually be indicted by federal prosecutors. The “all my friends may be corrupt but my hands are clean” line is wearing thin. Maybe it’ll even happen before November, that would be very amusing.
4
The result was far from some predictions and vastly more logical than some thought possible. Politics can be a circus but it’s not a play.
1
@Todd
I'm not sure I understand the analysis, but I love the metaphor. If it's yours, well done!
The Cuomo/Nixon matchup says less than zero about progressives vs. centrists. It says everything about the unqualified vs. the qualified. Cynthia Nixon was utterly unqualified. Not to mention NYC-centric (those of us upstate just adored her airy comments that we all would pick up the tab for the metro we never use 400 miles away). Put a qualified, experienced progressive with pragmatic policies in there who can tell Schenectady from Schoharie and see how fast some of us would change our votes.
2
I could say the same for the thousands of miles of freeway I never drive on
4
You should get out and take a spin on the NYS Thruway once in awhile! It is beautiful up here in the Hudson Valley. Lots to see and do and there is great fresh food and drink!
The governorship is not an entry-level position to politics. Cynthia Nixon failed to understand this.
14
@JacklynD
Sure it is. It happens all the time.
@Kevin from MI
Maybe in Michigan and other states but not here in NY.
Ny politics are corrupt to the core, one party system that lives in a echo chamber. Upstate needs to secede from nyc
4
NYT: What about the HUGE takeaway that more than twice as many voters turned out this time than 4 years ago?
Some intelligent reporting on that rather than ‘reporting’ on the personal, snarky comments of campaign managers would be appreciated.
The big story is Dems are mobilizing hard and energized to vote this year and this primary affirmed that again.
19
I think Nixon had good intentions and a positive outlook, but keep in mind she only had that against Cuomo’s large achievements in office, such as his legalization of same-sex marriage, enactment of gun control, and fight against the NRA’s invasive behavior towards Republicans. I feel that Nixon took advantage of Cuomo’s staggering approval ratings to promise more social justice if she was elected, which, without a doubt is something common in politics. Nevertheless, he managed to regain popularity from the Democratic base to secure the primary and defeat her. New York is a largely Democratic state, though, like many others (including my home state of Washington) the city dwellers go for the Democrats while the rural walkers lean towards the GOP. Perhaps Cuomo’s father’s achievements, combined with his own, was enough to bolster his base into granting him the nomination to see another term as Governor of New York.
3
If New Yorkers did not elect so many thugs to the legislature, they woud not need someone who knows how to deal with thugs (maybe by being one himself) as governor. As much as I like Tom Wolf, I sometimes wish he would take an axe handle to Pennsylvania's General Assembly thugs to deal with guns, underfunding of schools, and environmental and tax issues around fracking. Maybe things will change as more candidates like those who beat the I.D.C. crowd gain elective office.
2
Let's fact the facts: Nixon was something of a joke as a candidate for governor -- a TV star with no real experience in governing anything -- but 35% of NYS voters voted AGAINST Cuomo, a sleazy operator, as again shown by his low-road campaign mailer. NYers DON'T like him! And most news sources are (finally) on to his record of corrupt practices.
9
@NYer
I was born and raised in NYC. People HATED Ed Koch, but elected him to three terms, until they finally tired of his schtick and ejected him in favor of David Dinkins who then became a living dartboard as he tried to navigate some of the darkest times in NYC's history.
we don't have to LIKE our politicians. In fact we prefer NOT to.
1
I'm not convinced by the 'experience' argument. First, you almost always on hear this as a reason not to vote for a woman. Secondly, isn't it the policy we should be voting for?
What difference does it make if someone is good at "making things happen" if we don't like what they are promoting?
If I fundamentally agree with the ideas being put forward and the person is intelligent, I trust they can figure out how the job works.
2
Having grown up in New York politics in the 50's through the 70's I think you are all wrong. Even thought she was a TV star, ages ago, the fact that a neophyte got 34% against a "Cuomo" is amazing. She was up against NY royalty, against a machine fueled by money and favors. You are short changing her effort.
Typical
12
It stuns me that people voted for Cuomo, who is, IMO, such a sleaze and such a crook.
I didn't vote for Nixon - I did a write-in vote.
But CUOMO has a solid track record of being a mean, lying, scheming Machiavelli who's owned by lobbyists, and who sees being governor as his divine right (and a stepping-stone to being president some day).
I shake my head that when given a chance to choose, NY voters choose so poorly every.single.time.
You can look forward to 4 more years of having the subways fall apart (b/c Cuomo is all about optics and not at all about seriously addressing tough, expensive things that need to be done). BTW, ask him when the Moreland Commission report will be out, would you?
And you can also enjoy seeing Cuomo & the mayor at each other's throats - all to no productive end.
NY State has - and will continue to have - the crummy government it keeps voting for.
PS: I know why Zephyr Teachout keeps losing - she actually has integrity, and that is unacceptable in NY.
11
@L
Cuomo did manage to get the new Mario Cuomo Bridge built, get tough gun legislation passed as well as legislation for gay and lesbian couples to get legally married. The bottom line about Zephyr Teachout is that she does not appeal to most upstate voters.
1
I blame the bagel.
4
Nobody with a brain required any sort of pressure or reminders that Nixon was merely a celebrity, with no political experience, no kind of experience that would qualify her, not even as a director. Though, one could easily surmise that if Trump could win major office, why not Nixon? Nevertheless, I suspect she had innate disadvantages. Perhaps she should run for a much-lower office to gain experience, then City Council, then legislature, if she really wants a political career.
7
@Grittenhouse
All I want is someone who will champion the things I care about. "Political Experience" is just a term used to say women aren't qualified.
She's smart enough, she could have figured it out.
1.5 million voted ? That can't be more than 15% of the adults in the state. The biggest takeaway is apathy.
5
@DaveD - It doesn't help either that independent "No Party" voters are not allowed to vote in primaries in New York. Some states do allow it, but not this one.
3
@NYReader
That’s why it’s called the New York Democratic Party primary! If you want to vote in the NY Democratic primaries, you need to register as a Democrat with the Board of Elections in your home district within the timeframe set by the party. And that deadline is set well ahead of the elections. Same goes for Republican primaries.
The biggest takeaway from the primary is that celebritties shouldn't take the electorate for granted. Nixon got a ton of coverage and support only became she had name recognition. No one asked her the hard quetions or questioned her lack of experience. The media (and yes, I mean the Times also) never really pursued that and they should have. She got a pass and lots of press coverage. If she had been Cynthia Nobody, from upstate touting progressive ideas, she wouldn't have been taken seriously.
8
I will not vote for anyone at the state or national level who has no political experience.
As for those Democrats/No Party voters who hate Cuomo, if you don't vote for him, then there is a very good chance that Republican candidate Marcus Molinaro might win. Do you think Molinaro will care about the NYC voters concerns like rent control and fixing the subway? Do you think that he will not repeal the ACA expansion of Medicaid, or discontinue the 5-year minimum wage plan? I don't know the answers, but as someone from western NY, I do know that there are plenty of Republicans here who don't like paying taxes and don't care about the problems in NYC and would expect a Republican governor to support Trump's agenda.
14
@NYReader: Do you think Cuomo cares about NYC voters? OUR money helps pay for the rest of the state, while we get shafted.
Cuomo doesn't care about fixing the subway - as soon as the Nov. election is over, that issue will be back-burnered so fast your head will spin.
5
@L -Ironically, many New York residents (outside of NYC) feel that they pay for NYC while they get shafted too. My point is this - Cynthia Nixon ran and lost. Cuomo is the candidate. Yes he has problems. But we have a choice between him and the Republican Molinaro. If you think Cuomo doesn't do much for you, which I am not disputing - what do you think Molinaro will do for you instead?
@L
Yes, but we (upstater) supply NYC with drinking water! You cannot live without it. Remember that!
Politics seems to be the only profession in which a complete absence of relevant experience is promoted as a positive. Cynthia Nixon has some interesting ideas and is clearly passionate about our challenges, but I can't be the only person who is fed up with inexperienced celebrities with no clue how to govern. I voted for Cuomo but also for Teachout, who I had hoped would hold him accountable for his more egregious excesses and corrupt practices. Let Nixon start with a lower office and work her way up so we can trust her legislative abilities.
8
@Martha
It's not about experience. It's about what the candidate stands for. What's the use of an experienced candidate who get things done that don't really serve the people?
@Conrad It is about both. As a career government employee, I saw many well meaning people not able to get legislation through, or understand the budget, or getting cooperation from other state or federal agencies because they had never had to deal with others as equals, they did not understand the need for cooperation and compromise. Government is different from business.
I think Cynthia Nixon did extremely well considering her lack of experience. I would have been happy to vote for someone other than Cuomo, however the stakes are too high right now to vote for someone who would take office with such a steep learning curve. She should set her sights lower and earn her way up the political ladder. This isn't about how they ran their campaigns, more that we need people to govern who have at least some experience and integrity, and who are willing and courageous enough to challenge the entrenched political establishment.
6
@Ariel with Nixon as a last name is a handicap to start with; top that with NO EXPERIENCE, nobody wants her to learn on the job per se! She has too many challenges. Tell her not to quit her present job!! Bye, bye!
3
Cynthia Nixon had no business running for the governorship of New York. Maybe she should have run for city council first and actually established some credentials beyond weekend hobbyist activist and actresses. She would have been a disaster of epic proportions because of her lack of understanding around real issues of governance such as budgets, economic development and trade policy. This was no referendum on progressive politics more than it was a reality check that experience counts, especially in a large, complex state like New York. It's galling to me that we now have a professional celebrity class of wanna be politicians who dabble around the fringes and feel entitled to be anointed with authority solely because they dress themselves in Twitter based "activism."
Cuomo isn't a saint but he at least knows what he's doing.
As for Zephyr, how many offices has she run for and lost. Maybe it's time to try a different way of making your mark on society. There's always been a shocking tone deafness to her that has betrayed her deep seeded privilege.
28
@McDiddle
This race was strike three for Teachout. Check that out via Wikipedia.
First run for public office was for the Democratic Party nomination for NY Governor in 2014. Lost to Andrew Cuomo.
Second run was for a U.S. House seat in 19th district in upstate NY. Won the primary but lost handily to John Faso in 2016.
Old fashion politics & old fashion campaigning work, the key word here is WORK.
Social Media Platforms while great getting out the word does not replace old fashion work.
Something Liberals/Progressives need to embrace going into the 2018 mid-terms.
Guess what else doesn't work, Identity Politics. Until the Year of the Woman embraces White Middle Age Working Class Trumpers they will not win elections, a warning for 2020.
What does work is getting out and knocking on doors to progress your message of affordable healthcare for all, livable wages, and taking out big $$$ from politics. Something Millennias have little or no experience in executing.
Good luck in 2018 & 2020, and Trump's still here.
When will we ever learn? You get what your willing to put into it. Twitter, Facebook & Instagram ain't work.
7
Teachout would have and should have won the AG race if it weren't for spoiler and ambitious partner-in-crime with Cuomo Sean Patrick Maloney getting into the race.
9
@theresa I lived in Albany when Teachout ran for Congress two years ago. I watched several debates during that campaign. I was astounded and appalled at how poorly prepared she was for those debates; she had pat answers that showed she had no understanding of the issues. I find her to be a real phony.
5
It was Washout Teachout who was the spoiler, not Sean.
For someone who wanted to be the top lawyer in New York, Zephyr didn’t even care enough to get her license to practice law in NYS until TWO WEEKS ago. She’s an academic who has never seen the inside of a courtroom nor been in charge of a law office. Her only qualifications were that she told progressives what they wanted to hear.
3
@theresa
Dan from Hudson River is spot on, and I totally agree with his comments, but I still think Tish James would have won anyway. You obviously forgot Cuomo endorsed James, not Maloney, so your “partner-in-crime” charge is laughable.
Teachout was a part of Cynthia Nixon’s campaign team last Spring and reportedly had NO intention to run for anything soon since her first baby was due in October. Then AG Schneiderman stepped down and four Dem candidates stepped up, so how is Maloney ambitious but Teachout is not?
James needs your support and Maloney will still be running this Nov. trying to hold onto his seat in Congress. Time to get behind them both.
Now that we know this, what is it that we know?
1. Nixon garnered 34% of the vote in a race involving an unmistakable party guy and gets a best a tepid appreciation from the media. 34%! That's a lot.
2. Losses by sitting State Senators to insurgents are a strong signal to the Democratic establishment.
3. The personal ambitions of Letitia James's will deepen as she aligns herself even more closely to Cuomo. Let's hope there is no graft or corruption among Democrats in Albany.
8
@Gilin HK The Governor's job is NOT an acting gig, and has no place for actors, you hear?!!Who wants another Nixon in our government?
3
@Gilin HK: "Let's hope there is no graft or corruption" in Albany? Albany RUNS ON graft & corruption!
2
The personal ambitions?
Aren't you ambitious? Isn't everyone you are voting for on a ballot ambitious? Where are you going with this?
2
Similar percentage by Teachout last time was considered shocking. Also note Albany County and some nearby counties are some of the few that went for Nixon. Anybody who actually deals with Cuomo can't stand him.
10
Re: NYT headline "Cuomo Routs Nixon..." When your challenger receives 34% of the vote, I wouldn't say the incumbent "routed" anyone. Cuomo should remember that 34% number and start listening to a wider variety of New Yorkers.
11
@Jennie
Won't happen, his ego is the size of the Empire State Building.
7
Nixon could have begun her campaign by stating very clearly what she was for. Instead, her campaign began with a general concept about how Cuomo isn't a good governor and that her biography (raised in a rent controlled apartment by a single mother on a teacher's salary) and name recognition was proof enough that she would be a good governor. She could have started with a platform, e.g. here are these 4 problems, I have done a lot of research with experts on these issues and here are my proposed solutions. That would have gone a long way to defeat the claim that she had no experience. Instead it was only until a few weeks ago that one could go to her website and find out what exactly she stood for other than winning the election. The whole thing gave solid evidence to the claim that her campaign relied solely on the fact that she was in a very famous TV show in order to win. Meanwhile, it seems that most people are taking politics much more seriously these days. If you're going to run, being famous isn't meaningful, you have to know exactly why you want to be in office (other than it's better than not being in office) and what you intend to do when you get there.
16
@Joel If she knew that she may have tried. But Governorship is no acting job. Tell her to go to Hollywood, no place for a Nixon here.
1
@Joel Trouble is, having a solid, pragmatic, well-articulated program won't get you elected, either. Ask Hillary Clinton.
As someone said, "Nixon took one for the team." Other pols were scared to take on Cuomo but she stepped up and if people listened she made sense. The NYT reported time and again on Cuomo's and his team's corruption but then endorsed his 'potential to lead.' haha. As if he'll finally turn his attention from his real estate and wall street backers to NYC and NYS's real problems.
Next time your subway car breaks down, just congratulate yourself for voting for Cuomo's 'potential.'
21
Tony soprano had an ability to lead as well...
9
Nixon was never a viable candidate, yet she garnered 34% of the vote.
If she had any experience, she would have won.
What saved Cuomo was a bad challenger, he and the rest of the traditional democrats have a lot to learn.
Then and only then will the Republican Hegemony in Washington be broken.
20
As a progressive but outsider to NY with a more distant perspective it seems to me the differences on real issues (as opposed to theoretical ideas) between the Cuomo and Nixon campaigns are not that great and vastly smaller than the differences they have with what the Republican Party has become.
We had a similar situation in Rhode Island with similar results. In both cases the various wing of the Democratic Party have to come together in face if the real threats.
9
The Tappan Zee Bridge is an achievement for American Bridge. Hallelujah. Make more!
3
Nixon was less qualified to lead New York State than anyone in recent memory. That she was spoken about at all was because of her acting career.
20
@AndrewE The only thing she "fundamentally changed' was adding to her own face time in the news. After trump, a former TV personality with no experience was not a big draw, especially in a very complex state as ours. I followed her coverage and stated perspectives and was not impressed.
5
I'm thinking the lox and schmear on a cinnamon bagel sealed her fate---at least in NYC.
9
Cinnamon works well w/ lox...
4
I believe race played a bigger part in the progressive wins. Most of the districts have a changing ethnic population that made a difference in the outcome. Couple that with a female candidate and the "progressive" has a good chance to win. The difference between one Dem and another is minimal. But the difference between black and white is large in what we call "progressive" politics. And if we look at it historically, nothing has changed: voters have always voted race.
2
I'm glad to hear about the fall of the IDC. Ever since I've been reading about them, I've just shaken my head at its craven lunacy. If the Democrats win the State Senate, they should actually govern.
27
Zephyr Teachout should have won. This was a huge loss for New York State. She was a once-in-generation candidate in terms of qualification and charisma. My guess is that the crooks in Albany, and their donors on Wall Street, were lined up against her because they were scared of what she'd do to them. Very disappointing.
42
@purpledog
You can add Sean Patrick Maloney to the list of people out to protect Cuomo. He split the vote that would have gone to Teachout, particularly in the Hudson Valley. And now he's made a lot of progressives mad at him and risks losing his Congressional seat to a Republican.
15
@purpledog Yes, but the upside is that she still has decades of potential ahead. Look for her to keep at it and win big before long.
9
@theresa
Nonsense! Teachout was a Washout in all 3 tries to elected office, and one could just as easily say that she split the vote that would have gone to Maloney.
I am an involved, progressive Democrat ward chair in the Hudson Valley and can tell you that although more than a few Democrats were irritated with Sean for his AG run -- ALL of us know how effective he has been representing us in Congress and we will work hard for his re-election. He will certainly carry the NY18 district while Zephyr continues her hunt for yet another way into political power that keeps rejecting her.
3
For voters wanting leaders with proven skills and ability to get key things done, it seemed that Nixon was not the one.
14
I held my nose and voted for Cuomo because I didn't think Nixon had the experience to be governor. Some sort of experience, ideally in politics but even an executive role in corporate America, would have helped her. As others have said, I don't know why she started at the top.
Her concession speech confirmed my decision. She was the least gracious loser I have ever seen, particularly in a primary. When you lose a primary, your job is to rally your supporters to support your opponent against the other party. She was too busy praising herself to do that. If the Republican pulls off a miracle and wins, I will blame her.
55
@NYC BD Nixon has no shame! And to think Governorship of New York was an acting gig, tells us who she is! Go to Hollywood I say!
2
I voted for Cynthia Nixon to send a message to Coumo and other Blue Dog / Clinton /Wall Street / Real Estate Democrats that the Center has moved too far Right.
31
@Jamie KeenanI am glad your message fell on deaf ears.
3
Ms. Nixon, a television star, had no qualifications for running the state of New York. That was an act of hubris. She should have considered an Assembly race or better yet, move to a Republican Senate district and help move the state forward by ousting a Republican Senator. TV star running the government, I think we are all suffering from that experiment in Washington, DC.
68
@Joe Barnett just like trump has no qualifications for running the country, right? Sometimes, we have to give a new person a chance and we must do our part to stay engaged, not just at election times. We must create change ourselves.
1
She was on a scale of one to ten, she was nearly as qualified to be governor as Barack Obama was to be president... if you could Nixon’s wife into the mix, Nixon was about as qualified as Hillary Clinton was the be a NY senator
1
@christine maciel, exactly like Trump has no qualifications and should not be running the country, into the ground.
I wanted to vote for CNs message , but I had serious doubt that the crazy midwesterners that make up the rest of the state would vote for her in the general. We can not have another republican governor in our state, or any state, for that matter. Cuomo became a default choice. Better deliver on legalization of pot though.
Great to get those IDC turncoats out. We are the new Tea party, but we’re more like the original one from Boston in the 1700s. No taxation without equalization!
13
crazy midwesterners that make up the state? I'm one of those crazy midwesterners here and of course I voted for Nixon. You are close-minded and elitist and could spend some time in the midwest gaining some perspective.
5
@RTC
crazy midwesterners that make up the state? Not quite! I lived in the city for more than 40 years as has many of the people I know who live here in the Hudson Valley. Cynthia Nixon ran a terrible campaign up here and had no chance of winning. Besides most of NYC voted for Cuomo, not Nixon. Hang it up!
10
Oh, us Hicks in the western part of the state must’ve forgotten that the world revolves around New York City “elites.” You’re so much more smarter and special than me and my family because you live in the big city and I’m just a small dirt farmer.
NYC is about 43% of the state population... us other 57% have rights and our opinions and voices count just as much as yours.
People who act like you, who claim to be tolerant, are the reason why Trump won in 2016. You need to learn how to respect all people‘s views and find middle ground.
15
35% of the votes for a woman who has never held political office and ran without corporate money or tv commercials doesn't sound "Crushed" to me. It's pretty impressive. And interesting how the counties around Albany favored her. Good job, Cynthia Nixon.
80
O please. She came in 2nd in a two-man race and wasn’t even close. Enough with voting in people for their celebrity.
17
@AMA Did you see the Cuomo-Nixon debate? She brought a lot to the table, and pointed out major flaws in Cuomo's leadership (or lack of it). Keep an eye on him! Hubris alert.
3
@AMA
I voted for her IN SPITE of her celebrity actually-- After hearing her speak in person and being extremely impressed by her intelligence, depth of knowledge, and integrity. I'll take a lack of corruption over experience any day in my politicians. Corruption is a deal breaker for me.
5
Oh Boy! I hope Mario’s Failson is going to keep the Republicans in charge of the State Senate!
All the candidates for NY Attorney General were strong. Congratulations Letitia James - you have my vote on Nov 6!
17
There is a sixth takeaway.
As a former resident of New York, I can evaluate these results and say with certainty, that the rest of the state definitley needs to find a way to rid itself of New York City once and for all.
There just has to be a way to redraw the state boundaries and make NYC a separate entity, a place where all the left wing nut cases can go and live happily, but not drag the rest of the state down with them.
There is only one thing that has kept New York State marginally viable given the relentless onslaught of radical left wing politicians: Chobani.
3
@Objectivist without the tax revenue that comes from the Metropolitan New York area, I doubt rural New York could afford: its state colleges and Universities, the amount of paved roads and bridges it has, and the burden of all the closed factories that line the Mohawk.
29
@Objectivist This is a nice sentiment as upstate and eastern New York state is definitely more conservative than New York City and it's suburbs. But if they become a separate state, then they will also lose all nice benefits paid with the taxes from New York City, including Wall Street.
New York City contributes 66% of the state's tax revenue. Add Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties and the rate goes up to 82%. A lot of that money goes upstate to pay for services and investments there, thanks to the Republican state senators there (and personally I don't object to that). But That will go away if New York City becomes it's own state.
So be careful what you wish for!
23
Where this commenter lives comports with the commenter’s circumscribed and ultimately sad world view
Tough nuggies as we said in Queens growing up
Live with it or move to one of the saddest excuses for a state in the country (but it’s cheap. Low taxes ....)
We don’t run from challenges
We face them and solve them here
I consider myself a Progressive voter, but I voted for Cuomo. I appreciate the achievements that have been cited in other comments and fundamentally I was completely unconvinced that Nixon would be able to govern. You can't go from political novice to governor and succeed.
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@Katherine Schoonover I knew Cuomo would win, but I wanted to vote for Cynthia because I can't stand him and his "ways". It was good to see how many people came out to vote in the primaries, which is the most important outcome.
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@Debbie while I’m aware that many Progressives feel as you do, I have to disagree. Protest votes might feel good, but protest votes gave us President Donald Trump. Politics is a real world choice among imperfect alternatives. Sometimes the imperfections are worse than other times. I often wonder how all the Bernie fans who refused to vote for Hillary (who was not very high on my list either), fell about the results.
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@stevevelo Actually, non-votes gave us Donald Trump. And if voting for the candidate you despise the least is considered a "protest vote," then our system basically runs on protest votes.
3
The voters registered as democrats - the only ones eligible to vote - have spoken. The rules for registering as a party supporter are arcane and do not reflect the pace of of life in 2018.. Why none of the campaigns and the media fail to properly inform the public on what they need to do at least a month before the election is a mystery to me..
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@Mila K It sound like this is the first time you have voted in a primary. There is a reason it is called a Democratic Primary and the post card you should have received well in advance of a month clearly states that you must be enrolled in a party having a primary to vote in it. What is arcane about not allowing anyone or many someones to walk in off the street and vote and potentially throw off the vote. The 'pace of life in 2018' did not prevent many teen age, first time voters from registering in our party on the same form that was used to register to vote. I know because I registered them. Perhaps 'pace of life' is a code for 'didn't bother to be informed.'
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The challengers were mostly credible candidates with links to and support from traditional Democratic constituencies such as unions. John Liu was a former city comptroller and councilman. Robert Jackson was a former city councilman. Jessica Ramos was a former mayoral aide and union organizer. Biaggi worked on the Hillary Clinton campaign and as a lawyer in the governor’s office. Biaggi’s grandfather was even a former Congressman, who resigned from office after a young Rudy Giuliani successfully prosecuted him for corruption.
Even if you disagree with them on certain issues, they are traditional NYC Democratic candidates. Many Democratic voters hate the IDC for allying with state Republicans who are always shortchanging NYC. I don’t see much of a political earthquake.
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11 counties surrounding Albany voted for Nixon. Do those voters know something the rest of the state does not?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/09/13/us/elections/results-new-...
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Like what?
@Bill, yeah. They're willing to vote another Hollywood actor into politics. We don't need actors in politics. We already have them and they're not actors. Just incompetents. Nixon may have appeal but not in politics since she's never been involved in government.
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@Bill
I don’t think so. I held my nose and voted for Cuomo - first, I didn’t think Nixon was ready to be Governor and also, I was afraid she would lose in November.
Two reason why I think Fulton County, where I live, went for Nixon.
1. This area is heavily Republican (very heavily). Perhaps, people who identify as Democrat up here are just more progressive.
2. People for Cynthia Nixon are more energized. Very few people came out to vote - just over 1,000 in Fulton.
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Happy to see six of the eight IDC members ousted. I recall when I first heard about the IDC, I couldn't really even understand what it was, and after I did, I thought it was so bizarre. "You mean people elect democrats and then they vote with the republicans? Aren't the voters upset about that?" Well guess it took some time, but the voters woke up and corrected that situation.
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Takeaway number six. Lots of Democrats voted for progressive legislative candidates AND voted for Cuomo. This narrative about the noble reformers fighting the terrible political machine misses entirely Cuomo’s progressive record. Enacting gay marriage before the Supreme Court decision, banning fracking, higher minimum-wage, being declared the NRA’s worst enemy, paid leave, free college tuition, building infrastructure, protecting immigrants and women’s right to choose – – should I go on?
People who supported Cuomo were not fooled by some “machine“ politics. They voted for a highly competent, qualified governor who gets things done and at the same time they voted for insurgent candidates in legislative seats where necessary.
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Cynthia Nixon came off as a shrimp against a colossus, no experience, no state wide outreach, half baked ideas and no visible support from voters over 30 years of age. As I have said in the comments before, we can see in Washington what lack of experience in a job can do to government. If she is truly serious, she will run for lower office before attempting something like this again and grow a constituency first. Her commentary last night was pitiful, she didn't change a thing.
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@Bill
"we can see in Washington what lack of experience in a job can do to government."
The problem in Washington isn't lack of experience in itself, it's the heinous principles and values of those in power. If Cynthia Nixon were president, she might be as inexperienced as Trump, but I doubt her administration would be trying to ban Muslims, defund Planned Parenthood, gut Obamacare, tear children away from families at the border, rip up international trade agreements, or let polluters run the EPA. Yes, experience is desirable. But at this point I'd gladly vote for someone inexperienced with an agenda I support and their heart and head in the right place.
Cuomo is a formidable politician who says (and sometimes does) the right things to keep his job in a deep blue state, but he's also too much in bed with moneyed interests and the corrupt status quo to push for truly progressive change. I would have liked to see what Nixon could do. Of course, I'll support him in the general against the GOP, because the lesser of two evils is still the better choice. But win or lose, the progressive candidates and their supporters shouldn't stop fighting for what they believe in.
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@Jason The ultra-progressives, or Democratic Socialists are akin to the Tea Party, both are way out of the mainstream of most within their party. Sure they have a few good ideas, for instance, I believe that Universal Health Care is the future for our Country, but the bulk of what they offer is going to take even more of your pay check to fund and not necessarily a great idea. Free tuition to state colleges and universities is among them. (Cuomo was forced to get behind that one.) My point about Washington is the daily chaos and drama seen in the White House under a President devoid of Constitutional knowledge, or the desire to learn and bad ideas without understanding how government works his imperiled our Country. I sure do not want that on a smaller scale going on in Albany. Nixon was not ready for the job and her ideas, or positions which DiBlah pushed her into are far from what mainstream New Yorkers want to see.
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@Bill
"the bulk of what they offer is going to take even more of your pay check to fund and not necessarily a great idea. Free tuition to state colleges and universities is among them."
I would gladly give more of my paycheck to fund free college education. Helping young people get education is an investment in the future of our country, which benefits me as well.
"My point about Washington is the daily chaos and drama seen in the White House under a President devoid of Constitutional knowledge, or the desire to learn and bad ideas without understanding how government works his imperiled our Country."
Are you seriously suggesting that Cynthia Nixon doesn't have knowledge of the Constitution or a desire to learn? Not all inexperience is the same; the KIND of person matters too. The problem with Trump isn't his inexperience but his values -- including his narcissism and refusal to learn, which means he keeps making bad decisions. Cynthia would have worked hard to learn the job, learn from her mistakes, and to surround herself with smart people who weren't just there to flatter her ego.
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It's now time for Ms. Nixon and her supporters to embrace and support the Democratic ticket. Too much is at stake to engage in pettiness or indulge hurt feelings.
I didn't vote for Letitia James in the primary, but will enthusiastically do so in the general election because she beat my candidate.
Losing is never fun, but we have to be grownups.
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I can’t imagine that will be an issue.
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@Sparky Agreed on all counts. I love Cynthia but, frankly, she was New York's Bernie Sanders - great ideas but no way to implement them and not enough chops to work it all out. I would love to see her stay involved and work her way up!
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@Sparky Cynthia Nixon might cause some trouble since she'll still appear on the ballot under the Working Families Party, but I can't imagine anyone who voted for Zephyr Teachout voting for the republican over Tish James, can you?
However nobody seriously considers the Republican candidate a threat to Cuomo, so even if Nixon siphons off some of his support, he'll still probably win by a wide margin. This isn't like a Ross Perot or Ralph Nader situation where the margins are razor thin.
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"Progressive fervor" is sweeping the Democratic Party, not national politics.
These candidates will soon find out how little love there is for them among independents and GOP voters. They will get the kind of wipeout that Cuomo gave Nixon in the upcoming general election.
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@Jonathan
"These candidates will soon find out how little love there is for them among independents and GOP voters."
GOP voters are not the majority. Progressives won't win by trying to swing GOP voters their way; they'll win if they inspire NON-voters, disgusted with politics-as-usual, to go to the polls.
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@Jason
Us lifetime independents, the ones who don't vote or don't vote R or D, we're going to do exactly what Jonathan said. We do exist, we are real humans (even us pathetic horrid evil normal white men) and were going to crush you in November is a landslide like you haven't seen.
Many of us are ex-liberals and slobbering from the mouth thinking about disbanding the freak show the MM and establishment politicians have become. Every time you mouthed off about Trump, the elected President of the United States of America, we took it personally. Every. Time. Two years with of non stop insults begs a lesson, and Americans are going to teach it.
Polls have consistently shown that so-called “independents” are just partisans in disguise. More than 80% of them vote for the same party over and over.
Heck, many Tea Party folks were “independents!”
Mitt Romney won them by more than 10 points over Obama in 2012 but it didn’t make a difference because the Obama campaign knew they were republicans all along.