Twelve hours after the polls closed for the 2022 state Senate and congressional primaries, the results are clear in some of Brooklyn’s most competitive races, including the widely-watched, crowded primary in NY-10. Though the congressional races attracted the most attention, they were far from the most contentious this cycle, with challengers mounting popular campaigns against longtime incumbents in the state legislature.
Congressional District 7 – Nydia Velázquez
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, who has represented parts of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan for nearly 30 years, won an easy victory against artist and formal mayoral candidate Paperboy Prince with more than 83% of the vote as of Wednesday morning.
Prince earned just 15% of votes, giving Velázquez, also known as “La Luchadora,” an easy victory and a guaranteed trip back to Washington next year — but the loss hasn’t dissuaded Prince from running again in the future.
“Thank you so much,” Prince tweeted on Tuesday night. “Love you all. Announcing my campaign for NYC city Council tonight.”
Congressional District 8 – Hakeem Jeffries
Incumbent Hakeem Jeffries, who has represented parts of Brooklyn and Queens for nearly a decade, won the Democratic primary with more than 86% of the vote, securing his seat over challenger Queen Johnson. Jeffries, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, has said that the newly-redrawn congressional districts disenfranchise Black and Latino populations.
“Humbled by your continued support and committed to keep fighting hard for a better future,” Jeffries wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night.
Congressional District 10 – Dan Goldman
Dan Goldman, a former federal prosecutor most famous for his role in the Trump impeachment and heir to the Levi Strauss & Co. fortune, appears to have won the crowded race in NY-10, with just over 25% of the vote — a narrow lead over Yuh-Line Niou, who had earned 23.71% of the vote as of Wednesday morning with more than 98% of votes counted. Though the Associated Press declared Goldman the winner overnight, Niou had not yet conceded the race at the time of publication.
“Tonight though is not a victory for myself or any one person, it is a victory for all of us. All of us who will not let authoritarian forces undermine the foundation of our democracy and the rule of law,” Goldman said at his victory party on Tuesday. “It is a victory for all of us who are determined to fight for our fundamental rights, to expand abortion access throughout the country, to fight for our planet and to protect our children and neighbors from the scourge of gun violence and hate crimes in our society.”
A whopping 13 Democratic candidates — including Brooklyn Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon and former Mayor Bill de Blasio — leapt into the race after incumbent U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler announced he would be running in NY-12 after redistricting vastly changed the borders of his old district.
Check out Brooklyn Paper’s NY-10 coverage for more details on the race.
State Senate District 21 – Kevin Parker
Twenty-year incumbent Kevin Parker has held onto his seat after facing a challenge from two challengers — Democratic socialist David Alexis and former Manhattan District Attorney Kaegan Mays-Williams. With 45% of the vote compared to Alexis’ 37% and no Republican challenger, Parker will continue his reign as the representative of parts of Flatbush, Midwood, Mill Basin and Bergen Beach.
“We won! I want to thank the voters of the 21st District for sending me back to Albany to keep fighting for a fairer and more equitable Brooklyn,” Parker tweeted.
Senate District 25 – Jabari Brisport
With 85% of precincts reporting, freshman incumbent Jabari Brisport has won the Democratic nomination over challengers Conrad B. Tillard and Renee Holmes, raking in more than 70% of votes. Tillard, a minister and frequent candidate for political office, was endorsed by Mayor Eric Adams last week, just before early voting for the primary kicked off.
“I’m so grateful for all of my supporters,” Tillard said on Twitter on Wednesday morning. “The voters have spoken. I wish the 25th SD my best wishes!”
Brisport, a Democratic Socialist, will be joined in Albany by fellow DSA senators Julia Salazar, who ran unopposed in SD18, and Kristen Gonzalez, who won the primary in the brand-new SD59 on Tuesday.
“District 25, thank you for entrusting me with another term. And thank you to all of the volunteers and supporters who made this campaign possible, just like in 2020,” Brisport said on Twitter. “I look forward to continuing the fight for working-class New Yorkers alongside you. When we fight, we win.
Senate District 59 – Kristen Gonzalez
Gonzalez, a newcomer to the political world, ran in a similarly new district and snapped up nearly 60% of the vote in a five-candidate field that included former councilmember Elizabeth Crowley and former journalist and politico Nomiki Konst, who suspended her campaign and endorsed Gonzalez on Aug. 13. Konst still appeared on the ballot on primary day, but earned just 351 votes, according to the city’s board of elections.
“A million dollars can’t buy a movement,” Gonzalez wrote on Twitter on Tuesday night. “Thank you.”
A million dollars can't buy a movement.
Thank you. 🌹 pic.twitter.com/dJCxOBs8ZE
— Kristen Gonzalez (@Gonzalez4NY) August 24, 2022
Opponent Mike Corbett, a Manhattan district leader who won the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, was the first to concede on Tuesday night.
“I want to congratulate Kristen Gonzalez on her victory in this race and stand ready to support her as our next State Senator,” Corbett told Brooklyn Paper’s sister publication QNS. “Throughout the last two and a half months, we have treated each other with respect as we engaged in a debate on the ideas. The issues we discussed — from public safety to housing to workers’ rights — are still going to be there tomorrow, so it’s on us to continue working as a community.
