NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo wins Democratic primary, but gets stiff opposition from left wing
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo won his Democratic primary on Tuesday night for a second term — but with a surprisingly moderate-sized victory for someone who previously seemed like an unstoppable political force. His little-known opponent, Zephyr Teachout, a law professor at Fordham University, represented a strong and vocal opposition from Cuomo's left.
With 88 percent of precincts reporting, Cuomo has 61 percent of the vote against Teachout, with 35 percent. In the separate primary for lieutenant governor, Cuomo's running mate Kathy Hochul, a former congresswoman from the Buffalo area, has 59 percent; Teachout's running mate, Columbia University law professor Tim Wu, has 41 percent.
Teachout based her campaign on opposition to Cuomo's centrist policies, including his record of fiscal austerity, and gained the support (or at least the neutrality) of many prominent public employee unions. For his part, Cuomo has touted his progressive accomplishments in areas such as gun control and legalizing gay marriage, while saying that he made the decisions needed for state government to function properly again.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Cuomo has also been under fire — and is reportedly even under federal investigation — for his alleged interference in a commission on public corruption, which he ultimately disbanded. Nevertheless, Cuomo remains the very heavy favorite to win re-election in November against the Republican nominee, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino. A recent Quinnipiac poll showed Cuomo with a lead of 56 percent to 28 percent.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Bari Weiss’ ‘60 Minutes’ scandal is about more than one reportIN THE SPOTLIGHT By blocking an approved segment on a controversial prison holding US deportees in El Salvador, the editor-in-chief of CBS News has become the main story
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro


