Latest news with #NewYorkPrimary
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
This Century-Old Practice Could Break Political Polarization and Empower the Center
Two years ago, the American Bar Association (ABA) formed a Task Force for American Democracy, seeking to bolster voter confidence in the integrity of our elections, to reinforce the importance of the rule of law, and to suggest actionable ways to improve and strengthen our democratic system. We are privileged to be members of the ABA's task force. It is chaired by two distinguished jurists—Judge J. Michael Luttig and Jeh Charles Johnson—and includes a stellar cross-partisan array of lawyers, scholars, and community leaders. We held listening forums around the country and solicited expert advice on the key issues facing our democracy, including trust in elections, election worker safety, improving public dialogue, and reducing political polarization. It is clear that the ABA's concerns are warranted. According to Gallup, public satisfaction with "how democracy is working in this country" hit an all-time low in early 2025. Supermajorities regularly tell pollsters that they want major changes in the political system. Many appear open to giving up on the rule of law and letting a strongman run the country. Despite these worrisome signs, we remain optimistic about the democratic prospect in America. Democracy in America is not doomed. The ABA Task Force's forthcoming final report will offer many excellent suggestions on steps to bolster it. Among the recommendations under consideration, there is one that we especially wish to shine a light on: multi-party nomination, or "fusion" voting. Here's how it works. Imagine a new political party of "politically homeless" centrists. Call it the Common Sense Party—a combination of non-MAGA Republicans unhappy with the direction of their party, moderate-to-conservative Democrats not overly thrilled with their traditional political home, and unaffiliated voters who have been turned off by all the grandstanding and bickering. The Common Sense Party leadership wants to elevate a few key concerns: the rule of law, principled bargaining and compromise, and civility in public life. One thing it doesn't want to do is nominate traditional stand-alone third-party candidates. Common Sense folk aren't interested in wasting their votes or unintentionally being "spoilers." Instead, they interview the two major party candidates and nominate the one able and willing to make a credible, public commitment to the Common Sense Party's program (and its voters). NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 17: People vote in the New York Primary elections at the Brooklyn Museum on June 17, 2025 in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 17: People vote in the New York Primary elections at the Brooklyn Museum on June 17, 2025 in the Prospect Heights neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. More Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images That candidate would have two different party nominations, and thus appear on the ballot under two separate party labels: one major and one minor. On election night the candidate's votes are tallied separately by party and then added together to produce the final outcome. Hard to believe, but this idea is only legal in two states today. A citizen who likes what the Common Sense party stands for might well be persuaded to vote for a candidate under the Common Sense label because doing so packs a punch—it demonstrates not just who you support but why. A vote under the Common Sense label would signal support for a different kind of governance, for a more civil society. Sometimes, the votes on the fusion party line will make the difference in who wins, other times it won't. Either way the party is playing a constructive role. Again, there's no wasted vote and no spoiling when you vote for a fusion party. For nearly a century, fusion was legal and common in every state. It allowed new ideas, new leaders, and new parties to emerge. Abolitionists, farmers, emancipated Blacks, mechanics, prohibitionists, and populists all used fusion voting during the 19th century to make sure that their voices were heard by their fellow citizens as well as the leaders of this vast, diverse nation. But politics has changed, and not for the better. The vitality and flexibility of a multi-party system has been replaced by the brittleness and anger of a hyper-partisan, polarized two-party "doom loop." Until the 1990s, our two-party system was much less polarized and much more local. There were conservatives, moderates, and liberals in the Republican and Democratic parties, which facilitated cross-partisan cooperation and deal-making. Today, politics is deeply tribal and fully national, and it is very rare for a member of Congress to cross party lines. This hyper-polarization is not just a Congressional problem; it afflicts most state legislatures too. Today the incentives flow towards conflict rather than collaboration, stymying effective governance and making more Americans question whether democracy is working. Unfortunately, the more people get turned off by the choices served up by our two-party system, the more they may find strongmen and demagogues appealing. Ending the ban on fusion voting would enable people in the political center to build their own political home and to pull the other parties away from their extremes. In New York City, for example, centrist candidate Mike Bloomberg was able to get elected mayor in part because the Independence Party allowed voters a way to back him that did not rely on the two-party framework. We are heartened that the ABA Task Force's final report may encourage the states to reconsider the bans on fusion voting passed by the major parties a century ago. As we write, there is litigation underway in New Jersey, Kansas, and Wisconsin to have these bans declared unconstitutional under their respective state constitutions. The plaintiffs are the New Jersey Moderate, United Kansas, and United Wisconsin parties. Citizens and leaders who cherish self-government and the rule of law should welcome the forthcoming recommendations from the ABA Task Force. It's not too late to restore confidence in our democracy. William Kristol is editor at large at The Bulwark. Tom Rogers is executive chairman of Claigrid, Inc. (the cloud AI grid company), an editor-at-large for Newsweek and the founder of CNBC. Both are members of the American Bar Association Task Force For Democracy. The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
Washington Post
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
I'm Muslim. Zohran Mamdani's victory is a Barack Obama moment.
Zaid Jilani is a journalist and author of 'The American Saga' newsletter. When I found out about New York Democratic Assembly member Zohran Mamdani's upset victory in New York City's mayoral Democratic primary, an old memory popped into my head. It was the day after Barack Obama trounced John McCain in 2008's presidential election. A friend of mine who was running his student chapter for the state of Georgia greeted me at the student center of the University of Georgia, where we both went to school.
The Independent
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Washington Democrats don't know whether to panic or surrender to left-wing Mamdani's playbook after NYC race shocker
Whatever you do, don't extrapolate this result! Democrats in Washington and the media were falling over each other on Wednesday and Thursday to insist that the party as a whole should not follow the democratic socialist bent of Zohran Mamdani after the 33-year-old pulled off an upset victory in the New York mayoral primary. Defying the polls, Mamdani beat former governor Andrew Cuomo in the first round of voting — even as Cuomo's camp went into the day boasting of being ahead. Mamdani, they argue, does not provide a policy mold for other Democrats to fit themselves into, given New York's status as a deep-blue stronghold where a Republican is largely assumed to have no shot of winning in November. They're correct about the electorate itself not being representative of the country as a whole. But the panic among a certain generation of Democrats, especially in the days leading up to Mamdani's victory, is indicative of a party elite with some glaring vulnerabilities that were once again laid bare on Tuesday. Eleven months after former President Joe Biden stepped down from his re-election bid and forced his party into an accelerated catch-up sprint with around 100 days to go, the party's centrist establishment once again pinned all of their hopes (and cash) on an unpopular, aging statesman beset by ethical concerns. Guess what happened next? Not even a massive onslaught of Michael Bloomberg's wealth could save Cuomo, who remained well behind Mamdani throughout the night as votes were counted. None of the multitude of Democrats who once called on Cuomo to resign over sexual misconduct allegations could give a clear explanation for their change of heart — or why they weren't backing one of Mamdani's numerous other rivals. Axios's Alex Thompson, speaking on After Party with Emily Jashinsky, described the mindset of party leadership, whom he said told voters: 'This is the best candidate. Eat your vegetables.' For the second time in as many years, it didn't work. With a new reality setting in, the party's caucuses in Washington are split over how to view Mamdani, who now is very likely to become one of the most prominent Democratic politicians in the country. Progressives, of course, are openly embracing him. A few members of the party's establishment have come around as well, like Rep. Jerry Nadler, who endorsed him on Thursday. Others have not. Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer, both from New York and the two highest-ranking Democrats on the hill, have not made official endorsements of Mamdani's campaign for the general election (yet). Both are facing calls from prominent progressives to be challenged in their own primaries next year. Tom Suozzi, a Democrat in a front line district in the state, openly tweeted his reservations about the state assemblyman after his victory. The coverage of the race clearly plays a role here. Even as Mamdani himself was laser-focused on the issue of affordability in New York City, his association with the Democratic Socialists of America and his opposition to Israel's war in Gaza received an intense focus from a controversy-hungry mainstream political press. Even Mamdani's joint interview with cross-endorser Brad Lander on Stephen Colbert's Late Show was dominated by talk about Israel and Palestine. Front-line Democrats still fear any association with their party's far-left, whom they mainly view as a punching bag in tough election years. And party leaders in Washington still feel they have to cater to those representatives and senators, whose fates are so closely tied to the party's ability to fundraise in future cycles. A larger coalition, however, is taking some non-controversial lessons from Mamdani's victory — or, at least, lessons that would be non-controversial anywhere besides the Democratic Party. Voters, they argue, were certain to back the younger candidate less tied to the party's establishment in a year when more and more voters (especially millennials, who were a leading part of Mamdani's voter coalition) have lost faith in the party's establishment to lead themselves, let alone anyone else. They were also less likely to pick a candidate with such obvious baggage as Cuomo under the argument that a former governor who resigned in disgrace under a cloud of allegations was somehow the stronger pick come November. Especially when the city's voters were already weary of the evolving scandal around Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped out of the Democratic primary while under a corruption probe. Progressives and moderates cease their agreement after this point. The party's centrists will argue that the successful characteristics of Mamdani's appeal can be replicated in a candidate outside of the party's left wing. Progressives disagree, claiming that the kind of personal connection to voters only exists among more populist candidates, especially younger ones. They also point to Mamdani's massive army of volunteers, which they argue is directly tied to lefty organizations like DSA. And they argue that Cuomo, like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris before him, couldn't articulate a vision for their governance at all If nothing else, Tuesday's election results in New York sent one clear message to party leaders. Their efforts to shut out the progressive wing by throwing big-name endorsements and the crushing weight of big donor money behind weak candidates who have seen too many election cycles will increasingly be met with failure, unless the party can actually convince voters that the center-left has an exciting bench of charismatic younger leaders to pick up the torch.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
5 things to watch in New York's primaries
Voters across New York are heading to the polls on Tuesday for primaries across the state, but most of the attention will be on New York City for its Democratic mayoral primary. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has for months seemed to be in a strong position to mount what at one time would've been considered an unlikely political comeback as the clear front-runner in the field. But state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, who's sought to coalesce progressive opposition behind his candidacy as the Cuomo alternative, is hoping to pull off a major upset as polls suggest momentum is on his side. Several other races with high-profile individuals are also taking place in the city. Here are five things to watch for in New York's Tuesday primaries: For much of the race, the story of New York City's Democratic primary has been Cuomo's march back to political relevance. But the narrative has shifted in recent weeks, with Mamdani, a democratic socialist with the backing of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), gaining in the polls. An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey released Monday showed Mamdani virtually tied with Cuomo, and beating him in the final round of a ranked-choice simulation. A victory by Mamdani would be a stunning upset for a candidate who was basically unknown to most voters just a few months ago. It would also be the latest setback for Cuomo, who resigned from his position as New York governor in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations and reports that his administration undercounted nursing home deaths during the pandemic. Cuomo still enters Tuesday as the likely favorite. He recently scored an endorsement from influential Congressional Black Caucus member Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), and The New York Times editorial board last week urged voters not to support Mamdani. But Mamdani appears to have momentum on his side in a city that last delivered a stunning primary upset in 2018, when Ocasio-Cortez ousted former Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.). While most candidates in primaries usually declare their support for the party nominee, the Democratic mayoral primary has become increasingly fiery. A few candidates have strategically cross-endorsed as a way to influence their supporters to include candidates on their ballots more ideologically similar to them, or candidates who are at least more desirable alternatives. Several candidates pounced on Cuomo during the two mayoral debates. The 'Don't Rank Evil Andrew for Mayor' campaign, or DREAM, formed to call on voters and candidates to back anyone except Cuomo. And both Cuomo and Mamdani may have an opportunity to face each other again in November regardless of who wins the nomination. In May, Cuomo formed his own separate party line to run in the general election, called the Fight and Deliver Party, saying he wanted to form the largest coalition possible outside the Democratic brand. He's likely to be a choice in November regardless of Tuesday's result. Mamdani also could have another avenue to stay in the race through the Working Families Party, a smaller left-wing party that has ballot access in the general election. The party called on voters to rank Mamdani first, but it's also indicated interest in nominating another candidate if Cuomo wins the Democratic nomination. Party leaders haven't said whom they would choose, but Mamdani would have a strong case for it to be him. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is facing voters a year after he oversaw the first successful criminal prosecution of a former president, securing a conviction of President Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The case became a lightning rod in the 2024 presidential race as Trump railed against what he claimed was a politically motivated prosecution. A former federal prosecutor who became the first Black person to hold the office, Bragg called for not prosecuting lower-level nonviolent crimes during his first campaign and ushered in progressive policies, though he's taken some criticism from progressives over accusations of shying away from some of those proposals. Bragg has touted declining statistics on shootings and crimes like robberies and assaults, but he's facing a primary challenge from Patrick Timmins, a former prosecutor in the Bronx. One internal poll for Bragg showed him well ahead of Timmins, but Timmins expressed optimism about his chances of winning as his name identification increases. Two decades after his conviction was vacated, Raymond Santana is attempting to become the second member of the group of five Black and Latino men known as the Central Park Five to be elected to the New York City Council. Santana is running for the Democratic nomination for Council District 8, seeking to join Council member Yusef Salaam, who was elected in 2023. Salaam, Santana and three others were convicted of charges stemming from an assault on a white jogger in Central Park in 1989. Their convictions were thrown out in 2002 after the real culprit confessed and DNA evidence proved their innocence. Santana is facing a crowded primary to succeed outgoing Council member Diana Ayala, who is term limited. Acting Buffalo Mayor Christopher Scanlon ascended to the position in October after his predecessor, Byron Brown, stepped down to become CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public corporation for horse race wagering. Scanlon was the architect of Brown's successful 2021 write-in campaign after Brown lost the Democratic nomination to a left-wing challenger, and now he's trying to win the primary in his own right against a few candidates, most notably New York state Sen. Sean Ryan (D). Scanlon appears to be facing a bit of an uphill battle as Ryan secured the endorsements of the Erie County Democratic Party and the Working Families Party. Ryan's also kept pace with Scanlon's fundraising and spending, both raking in significant donations. The county party endorsement caused significant controversy over allegations that the party chair would be appointed to Ryan's state Senate seat if Ryan became mayor. The chair has denied this. Issues of city finances and infrastructure have played a central role in the race, which includes three other candidates. Scanlon has already filed to run as an independent in the general election, while Ryan has the Working Families Party nomination, making a November rematch likely. But winning the Democratic nomination would certainly be an advantage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Bloomberg
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Andrew Cuomo: Tonight Was Not Our Night
Andrew Cuomo concedes the New York City Democratic primary to his opponent Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic socialist. Mamdani won with 43.5% of the vote in the first round of ranked-choice voting, with Cuomo receiving 36.4%. Cuomo, the former governor of New York, spoke to supporters in Manhattan. (Source: Bloomberg)
