Democrats sweep Bronx races, high turnout driven by presidential election

There were no surprises in any of the Bronx races, with Democrats winning all of the federal and state races as expected.

The races were all called almost immediately after polls closed at 9 p.m. Unofficial results released by the NYS Board of Elections revealed that all of the incumbents retained their seats, with just one newcomer emerging: George Latimer. Latimer, who unseated incumbent Democrat Jamaal Bowman in the 16th District congressional primary in June, cruised to victory against his Republican challenger.

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As expected, Adriano Espaillat defeated Ruben Vargas for the 13^th congressional district seat; Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez beat Tina Forte for the 14^th district seat; Ritchie Torres beat Gonzalo Duran and Jose Vega in the 15^th district; and George Latimer overcame Miriam Levitt Flisser in the 16th district.

In the state senate, Jose Serrano defeated Tanya Carmichael in the race for the 29^th district senate seat; Luis Sepulveda beat Bernadette Stroud for the 32^nd district; Gustavo Rivera cruised past Dion J. Powell in the 33^rd district; Nathalia Fernandez won the 34^th district, beating Edwinna Herrera; and Jamaal T. Bailey overcame Irene Estrada to win the 36th district.

Robert Jackson ran unopposed for his 31^st district senate seat.

Meanwhile, in the assembly, Democrats also cruised to victory. Landon Dais held his 77^th district seat; George A. Alvarez retained his 78^th district seat; Chantel Jackson kept her 79^th district seat; John Zaccaro Jr. won the 80^th district; Jeffrey Dinowitz kept his 81^st district seat; Michael Benedetto won the 82^nddistrict seat; Carl E. Heastie the 83^rd district; Amanda N. Septimo kept her 84^th district seat; Emerita Torres held the 85^th; Yudelka Tapia the 86^th; and Karine Reyes retained the 87^thdistrict.

Voters at Bronx Borough Hall Tuesday morning. Photo by Emily Swanson

Despite there being many local races, Bronx residents mainly focused on the presidential race, which drew them to the polls.

The election saw 339,883 Bronx residents cast their ballots, with 244,385 for Kamala Harris, representing 72% of the vote, and 91,542 for Donald Trump, or 27%, according to preliminary election results.

There was high voter turnout at most sites, such as at Bronx Borough Hall. Before noon, about 500 ballots were cast, a much higher turnout than usual, poll workers said.

Meanwhile, at a polling site at P.S. 13 in Longwood, an election worker said that they had been busy all day.

“They were outside lining up at 6 a.m.,” a poll worker at P.S. 13 said. By 2 p.m., 600 people had voted at the polling station.

However, at P.S. 83 The Donald Hertz School in Morris Park, residents came in ebbs and flows, with 324 people having cast their ballots by 3:45 p.m. “Turnout has been consistent. It comes in waves,” a worker said.

Voters throughout the borough overwhelmingly supported Harris.

One voter, a 74-year-old woman who was casting her ballot at Bronx Borough Hall, said that she backed Harris, saying there was a need for change and that she didn’t like Donald Trump.

The woman, who has lived in the Bronx for 40 years and didn’t want to disclose her name, also didn’t believe that Trump was the right choice for women. She noted that while he claimed that he would protect women, “I don’t buy that.”

Meanwhile, Emilio Cabrera, 58, who was about to vote at the borough hall polling site, said he remained unsure who to cast his ballot for.

“I’m confused right now” about whether Harris or Trump is better. He said that he felt that both candidates were “losing focus,” arguing and attacking one another.

He expressed concerns about the economy and wars, while also saying that women are often better decision makers and less likely to do irrational things.

Many voters at P.S. 130 Abram Stevens Hewitt in Longwood also backed Harris.

Jasmine Chewuli, a Longwood resident and Bronx native, said that Harris was advocating for policies that are important to her. “I like some of the things she is fighting for, like women’s rights.”

But there were some Trump supporters.

Jean Batista, 30, a Dominican American man who was voting at P.S. 83, backed Trump and the Republican candidates.

“Right now, there is war everywhere and we need a strong leader,” he said.

Batista said he was not put off by some of the Trump campaign’s controversial statements. For instance, the joke at Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden about Puerto Rico last week didn’t upset him. He noted that the joke was made by a comedian and that he was more concerned with the price of eggs and milk.

“It was nasty, but he was just doing his job [as a comedian],” Batista said. “I don’t care because I know who I am and where I come from.”

For a detailed breakdown of all the Bronx races, see below.

New York’s 13th Congressional District:

Neighborhoods Covered: This district includes Upper Manhattan and parts of the West Bronx, encompassing neighborhoods such as Harlem, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill, and portions of the Bronx including Kingsbridge, University Heights, and Morris Heights.
Candidates:
- Adriano Espaillat (Democratic) – Incumbent 164,402 votes (75.38%)
- Ruben D. Vargas (Republican/Conservative) 32,316 votes (14.82%)

New York’s 14th Congressional District:

Neighborhoods Covered: This district spans parts of the Bronx and Queens. In the Bronx, it includes neighborhoods like City Island, Country Club, Van Nest, Morris Park, Parkchester, Pelham Bay, Schuylerville, and Throggs Neck. In Queens, it covers areas such as Astoria, College Point, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside.
Candidates:
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democrat/Working Families – Incumbent 123,269 votes (64.38%)
- Tina Forte (Republican/Conservative) 55,580 votes (29.12%)

New York’s 15th Congressional District:

Neighborhoods Covered: Entirely within the Bronx, this district includes neighborhoods such as Mott Haven, Melrose, Concourse, Highbridge, Morrisania, Hunts Point, Longwood, and Tremont.
Candidates:
- Ritchie Torres (Democratic) – Incumbent 121,318 votes (69.41%)
- Gonzalo Duran (Republican/Conservative) 33,405 votes (19.11%)
- Jose Vega (LaRouche Party) 3,746 votes (2.14%)

New York’s 16th Congressional District:

Neighborhoods Covered: This district includes a small portion of the northern Bronx, specifically the neighborhood of Wakefield, and extends into the southern half of Westchester County, covering cities like Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and White Plains.
Candidates:
- George S. Latimer (Democratic) 206,995 votes (65.90%)
- Miriam Levitt Flisser (Republican) 81,979 votes (26.10%)

New York State Senate Districts:

District 29:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Parts of the South Bronx, including Mott Haven and Port Morris.
- Candidates:
  - José M. Serrano (Democratic/Working Families) – Incumbent 57,818 votes (73.95%)
  - Tanya Carmichael (Republican/Conservative) 12,958 votes (16.57%)
District 31:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Includes parts of the Bronx and Manhattan.
- Candidates:
  - Robert Jackson (Democratic/Working Families) – Incumbent 63,610 votes (unopposed)
District 32:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Soundview, Parkchester, Castle Hill, and parts of the South Bronx.
- Candidates:
  - Luis R. Sepúlveda (Democratic) – Incumbent 42,532 votes (69.58%)
  - Bernadette E. Stroud (Republican/Conservative) 11,109 votes (18.17%)
District 33:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Kingsbridge Heights, Fordham, University Heights, and parts of the West Bronx.
- Candidates:
  - Gustavo Rivera (Democratic) – Incumbent 47,808 votes (67.04%)
  - Dion J. Powell (Republican/Conservative) 16,020 votes (22.46%)
District 34:
- Neighborhoods Covered: City Island, Throggs Neck, Pelham Bay, Middletown, Country Club, Castle Hill, Parkchester, Clason Point, and portions of Morris Park; also includes parts of southern Westchester County.
- Candidates:
  - Nathalia Fernandez (Democratic) – Incumbent 54,947 votes (60.90%)
  - Edwinna Herrera (Republican/Conservative) 26,469 votes (29.34%)
District 36:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Co-op City, Wakefield, Woodlawn, Pelham Gardens, Edenwald, Eastchester, and Baychester; also includes parts of Mount Vernon in Westchester County.
- Candidates:
  - Jamaal T. Bailey (Democratic) – Incumbent 73,353 votes (78.21%)
  - Irene Estrada (Conservative) 6,697 votes (7.14%)

New York State Assembly Districts:

District 77:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Claremont, Concourse, Highbridge, Mount Eden, and Morris Heights.
- Candidates:
  - Landon C. Dais (Democratic) – Incumbent 16,784 votes (63.88%)
  - Norman Sobe McGill (Republican) 4,645 votes (17.68%)
  - Elianni Del Carmen Tejada Fabia (conservative) 1,108 votes (4.22%)
District 78:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Parts of Fordham, Kingsbridge Heights, and University Heights.
- Candidates:
  - George Alvarez (Democratic) – Incumbent 16,162 votes (65.02%)
  - John Santiago (Republican Conservative) 5,792 votes (23.30%)
District 79:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Morrisania, Melrose, Belmont, Claremont, and East Tremont.
- Candidates:
  - Chantel Jackson (Democratic) – Incumbent 19,229 votes (70.45%)
  - Sharon Darby (Republican) 3,941 votes (14.14%)
  - Emmanuel A Findlay Jr (Conservative) 796 votes (2.89%)
District 80:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, Allerton, and parts of Norwood and Van Nest.
- Candidates:
  - John Zaccaro Jr. (Democratic) – Incumbent 19,497 votes (59.87%)
  - Nicholas Marricco (Republican) 7,810 votes (23.98%)
  - Grace Marrero (Conservative) 1,488 votes (4.57%)
District 81:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Riverdale, Kingsbridge, Norwood, and parts of Wakefield and Woodlawn.
- Candidates:
  - Jeffrey Dinowitz (Democratic) – Incumbent 27,894 votes (70.19%)
  - Kevin Pazmino (Republican/Conservative) 8,322 votes (20.94%)
District 82:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Throggs Neck, Co-op City, City Island, Pelham Bay, and parts of Schuylerville and Spencer Estate.
- Candidates:
  - Michael Benedetto (Democratic) – Incumbent 28,224 votes (63.53%)
  - Juan De La Cruz (Republican/Conservative) 12,795 votes (28.78%)
District 83:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Williamsbridge, Wakefield, Edenwald, Eastchester, and Baychester.
- Candidates:
  - Carl E. Heastie (Democratic) – Incumbent 28,509 votes (81.65%)
  - Stephanie Liggio (Republican/Conservative) 3,661 votes (10.49%)
District 84:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Mott Haven, Port Morris, Melrose, and parts of the South Bronx.
- Candidates:
  - Amanda Septimo (Democratic) – Incumbent 19,054 votes (67.32%)
  - Rosaline Nieves (Republican) 5,020 votes (17.74%)
  - Tyreek Goodman (Conservative) 717 votes (2.53%)
District 85:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Soundview, Clason Point, Longwood, Hunts Point, and Rikers Island.
- Candidates:
  - Emerita Torres (Democratic) Incumbent 19,700 votes (69.46%)
  - Kelly Atkinson (Republican) 4,561 (16.08%)
  - Gary Lutz (Conservative) 647 (2.28%)
District 86:
- Neighborhoods Covered: University Heights, Morris Heights, Mount Eden, Kingsbridge, Tremont, and Fordham.
- Candidates:
  - Yudelka Tapia (Democratic) – Incumbent 16,055 votes (64.87%)
  - Woodrow Hines Jr (Republican) 4,911 votes (19.84%)
  - Darney Rivers (Conservative) 547 votes (2.21%)

District 87:
- Neighborhoods Covered: Parkchester, Castle Hill, West Farms, Van Nest, and parts of Soundview.
- Candidates:
  - Karines Reyes (Democratic) – Incumbent 24,101 votes (unopposed)

Note: These are the unofficial results provided via the New York City and New York State Boards of Elections. All vote totals are preliminary and subject to change.