New York legislators \u2014 who have yet to finalize a state budget \u2014 are also gearing up for reelection bids this year.<\/p>\n
There are a handful of competitive primary races for open seats spurred by a mix of retirements and bids for higher office.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
The primary is set for June 23, but early voting kicks off on Saturday, June 13
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There are open seats in Manhattan Assembly districts 65, 66, 69 and 73, and some incumbent Democrats are running \u2014 just not for reelection to their old seats
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In Queens, Assembly seats are up for grabs after longtime Democratic Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer-Amato and Vivian Cook announced their exits<\/p>\n
Several incumbents are also facing competitive races, forcing them to defend their seats.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of things happening all at the same time. Some of it is normal, there\u2019s the churn of, this job is a grind, or this isn\u2019t what I wanted,\u201d said Liz Benjamin, the managing director at Marathon Strategies.<\/p>\n
In the state Senate, longtime Democratic Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, representing parts of Astoria, Sunnyside, Elmhurst and Maspeth, isn\u2019t seeking reelection to the 12th district.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther things start to look good when you feel like you are constantly at war with one another and maybe not getting anywhere, oh, and also taking grief from the advocates and taking grief from your constituents,\u201d said Benjamin.<\/p>\n
There are open seats in Manhattan Assembly districts 65, 66, 69 and 73, and some incumbent Democrats are running \u2014 just not for reelection to their old seats.<\/p>\n
Micah Lasher and Alex Bores are facing off to be the next congressional representative in New York’s 12th congressional district.<\/p>\n
Assemblywoman Grace Lee wants the state Senate seat vacated by outgoing Housing Chair Brian Kavanagh, representing Lower Manhattan\u2019s 27th district, covering Tribeca, Chinatown and the East Village.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenge for anyone running this year is how do you break through the noise? And it can\u2019t just be with an onslaught of money; it\u2019s got to be the message,\u201d said political consultant and former Democratic state Sen. David Carlucci.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe candidates today know they have to be different,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In Queens, Assembly seats are up for grabs after longtime Democratic Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer-Amato and Vivian Cook announced their exits. But Steven Raga, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas and Claire Valdez are running for higher office.<\/p>\n
Also facing primaries are state Sens. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, of Staten Island and Brooklyn, and Jessica Ramos in District 13, covering parts of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Corona.<\/p>\n