By Rachel Knapp
(WENY) — The Empire State joins Maryland, Utah, and South Carolina as a quartet of states with primary elections today. The Palmetto State will feature only runoffs, as their first batch took place two weeks ago on June 9.
Poll closures vary this evening, South Carolina wraps up at 7:00 P.M., Maryland at 8:00 P.M., New York at 9:00 P.M., and Utah finishes at 10:00 P.M. (8:00 P.M. local).
Throughout New York State, incumbents face challenges in both primaries and in November, and much of those challenges are downstate, in the New York City Metro, though several upstate races will draw eyes as the night carries on.
Congressional District 7 — Democratic
Progressives and democratic socialists are far more present on Democratic Party primary ballots this time around. A perfect example is in the 7th district, which holds several neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, including Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Woodhaven.
Incumbent Nydia Velázquez did not seek re-election, opening up the door to a new face in 2027. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and NYS Assemblymember Claire Valdez are polling and fundraising frontrunners, while NYC City Councilmember Julie Won is on the outside looking in.
Reynoso has welcomed the endorsement of several established figures in NYS politics, including representatives Jerry Nadler and Pat Ryan, as well as Attorney General Letitia James. He also has the support of over a dozen labor unions and councils, and the Working Families Party.
Valdez has support much more left of center, as both Senator Bernie Sanders and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani are backing her. She’s one of several backed by the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.
The most recent Emerson College poll has Valdez ahead of Reynoso, 23 to 21 percent. However 43 percent of respondents said they were undecided. Election aggregators have this race listed as ‘Solid Democratic.’
Congressional District 10 — Democratic
The 10th district, which includes portions of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, sees a white hot progressive in Brad Lander charging ahead of an embattled centrist incumbent in Dan Goldman.
Lander, the former NYC Comptroller, enjoys support from Mayor Mamdani, along with a progressive coalition in State Senator Jabari Brisport, NYC City Councilmember Justin Brannan, and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Organizations like Indivisible, MoveOn, the Stonewall Democratic Club, and the Working Families Party have also thrown support behind Lander.
Goldman has sunk in polling numbers despite endorsements from Representatives Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi, as well as Governor Kathy Hochul. Establishment figures and groups have pledged millions to support Goldman, but he has faced much criticism for his loyalty to several big money PACs, including AIPAC.
Despite Goldman raising $5 million more than Lander in overall fundraising, he trails the former comptroller 57 to 23 percent in the most recent Emerson College poll. Election aggregators have this race listed as ‘Solid Democratic.’
Congressional District 12 — Democratic
Jerry Nadler will retire, opening up the door for a new representative in the entirely Manhattan based district. Eight candidates remain in the race, though only half of them seemingly have a path to victory in the crowded race.
State Assemblymember Alex Bores was polling as low as 9 percent in February, but has stood atop several polls released in May. He is a former Palantir employee who left the company in 2019 citing disagreement with the company’s co-operation with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Recently, he sponsored a bill that would put a moratorium on data centers in New York State, the bill passed. Several state assemblymembers have endorsed Bores, as well as the New York State AFL-CIO.
Lawyer and activist George Conway has outraised all of his competitors, but lacks notable endorsements for his campaign. He was at one point married to Kellyanne Fitzpatrick, the controversial former advisor to the President. Conway registered as a democrat in 2025.
State Assemblymember Micah Lasher has seen some momentum in the leadup to today’s election. Incumbent Nadler and Governor Hochul are supporting him, along with former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and NYC Comptroller Mark Levine. However, he lacks the union support shown to Bores.
Rounding out the competitors is Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of JFK. His notable endorsements consist of his mother Caroline Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, and the Association of Flight Attendants. His polling average has slipped over the past few months, from a high of 25 percent in March to just 11 percent.
Both the Working Families Party and Mayor Mamdani did not endorse a candidate. The most recent Emerson College poll has Lasher at 22 percent, Bores at 20 percent, Schlossberg at 11 percent, and Conway at 10 percent, though nearly one third of respondents stated they were undecided. Several polls released in May showed Bores as a thin favorite. Election aggregators have this race listed as ‘Solid Democratic.’
Congressional District 13 — Democratic
It’s down to two in the district encompassing Upper Manhattan and several neighborhoods in the Northwest Bronx. Incumbent Adriano Espaillat has a hybrid establishment-progressive caucus behind him as Darializa Avila Chevalier makes a significant challenge from the left wing.
Espaillat has heavy support from the Democratic Party leadership base with endorsements from Governor Hochul, AG James, and Representative Jeffries. He also landed the support of several progressive democrats including Greg Casar and Pramila Jayapal. His campaign also benefits from large contributions from pro-Israel PACs like AIPAC.
Chevalier is yet another part of Mayor Mamdani’s coalition. He along with representative-elect Chris Rabb, and fellow progressives Claire Valdez, Jabari Brisport, and Chi Osse have endorsed her. She has also earned support from grassroots organizations like Indivisible, Jewish Voice for Peace, NYC DSA, and Sunrise Movement.
This race has mostly hinged on candidate remarks and support regarding the Israel-Palestine crisis in the Middle East. Espaillat has raised over twice as much as Chevalier, but polling shows a dead heat. Chevalier was ahead 39 to 35 percent in an early June poll from Data for Progress, but a more recent poll from Mercury Public Affairs had Espaillat up 35 to 27 percent, but with 38 percent unsure.
Election aggregators have this race listed as ‘Solid Democratic.’
Congressional District 17 — Democratic
Moving outside the NYC Metro, Democrats have their eyes on the Lower Hudson Valley district (Rockland, Putnam, and Northern Westchester Counties) held by Republican incumbent Mike Lawler. He is running unopposed, but the Democratic primary is crowded.
Cait Conley, a former senior advisor to CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) is both the fundraising leader and polling favorite. Centrist democrats such as Jason Crow, Ritchie Torres, and Seth Moulton have endorsed her. The New York State United Teachers have voiced their support, as well as several PACs including Giffords, VoteVets and Democratic Majority for Israel.
Longshot Beth Davidson is a legislator from Rockland County, and has raised over $2 million. Effie Phillips-Staley, a village trustee out of Tarrytown, has the backing of progressive representative Ro Khanna, as well as the Working Families Party.
A Public Policy poll released last week has Conley ahead with 33 percent support, Davidson is second with 19 percent, and Phillips-Staley is third with 14 percent. 34 percent of respondents marked either a different candidate or were unsure.
Election aggregators have this race listed as a ‘Tossup.’
Congressional District 21 – Republican
Encompassing the North Country and portions of the Capital District, including Glens Falls, Lake George, Plattsburgh, Potsdam, Herkimer, and Rome among others, the GOP race serves as a test for President Trump’s endorsement power in the Empire State.
Incumbent Elise Stefanik is not seeking re-election after an abrupt retirement that came after a withdrawn run at governor. Just two candidates remain, both of them were going to run in the now-canceled special election that was supposed to happen last year.
Anthony Constantino, a hardline conservative, emerges as a favorite thanks to an endorsement from the president. The Sticker Mule CEO has also garnered support from notable Trump allies including former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Representative Jim Jordan, and former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani. He’s raised over $7 million, far away from his primary opponent.
State Assemblymember Robert Smullen serves as the more centre-right figure in the race. NYS Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay, along with 45 more assemblymembers have endorsed him. New York GOP Chair Edward Cox, the New York Republican State Committee, and the Conservative Party of New York State have also shown support.
Polling is few, far-between, and mostly internal for this race. A February poll by GrayHouse, sponsored by Constantino, had him in front 43 to 16 percent, with 41 percent unsure. However, an April McLaughlin & Associates poll sponsored by Smullen showed him ahead 43 to 33 percent, with 24 percent unsure.
Election aggregator Race to the WH has this race listed as a ‘Leaning Republican.’ The GOP nominee will likely face dairy farmer Blake Gendebien in November.
State Comptroller — Democratic
Tom DiNapoli is running as the incumbent, and has faced criticism from challengers over issues involving retirement fund investment and a lack of returned unclaimed funds. Despite this, he has plenty of support of a multitude of figures, including Hillary Clinton, Representatives Gregory Meeks and Pat Ryan, and Stonewall Democrats.
Challenger Raj Goyle is the founder of Phone Free New York. If elected he plans to divest from fossil fuel companies. He has found support from progressives Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna, as well as Sunrise Movement NYC.
There is no polling data or aggregator predictions for this race. Polls across New York State close at 9:00 P.M. local time.