News Americas, BROOKLYN, NY, Tues. Nov. 5, 2013: After more than two decades, a Democrat has been elected back to the mayor of New York City, thanks largely to a minority voting bloc.
Bill de Blasio tonight was declared the winner of the mayoral election with 752,604 or a whopping 73 percent of the votes compared to 249,121 or just over 24 percent for his nearest rival, Republican Joe Lhota.
De Blasio, according to exit polls from Edison Research won more than 9 of 10 black votes and 8 of 10 Hispanic votes. He also won 67 percent of the Asian votes but only 54 percent of White votes. Many of the black and Asian voters were Caribbean Americans who rallied and fundraised for de Blasio in the many months leading up to the election.
In the black and Caribbean American areas of New York City, like Jamaica, Queens, Baychester in the Bronx and Flatbush, Brooklyn, de Blasio won 95 plus percent of the votes.
He also won the gay vote as well as the male and female vote, the votes of all age, education and income levels and some 46 percent of the independent vote.
This means for the first time in the history of New York City, an interracial family will become the city’s first family and call Gracie Mansion home.
In his celebratory speech at the Brooklyn Armory, de Blasio reminded hundreds of supporters gathered to celebrate: “Our work is just beginning and we have no illusions about the ask ahead. The problems will not be solved overnight.”
But he insisted all New Yorkers “must commit ourselves to progressive ideals together,” and pledged to stay true to his campaign promises including making millionaires pay a bit more in taxes in order to fund universal Pre-k and making sure the police and community works together to ensure the preservation of civil liberties, a clear knock to the controversial stop and frisk policy of the Bloomberg administration.
CARIBBEAN AMERICAN CONGRESSWOMAN
Caribbean American Congresswoman, Yvette D. Clarke, congratulated de Blasio on his win, insisting he “understands that the enormous income inequality that exists in New York City threatens to undermine our shared commitment to the American Dream.”
“He has considered this problem, and has developed a program that will restore the faith of our people in themselves and in each other,” the congresswoman added.
OTHER RACES
Meanwhile in other races in New York City, Scott Stringer won the post of city comptroller while Leticia James is the new public advocate. Ruben Diaz is the Bronx Borough president while Eric Adams is the new Brooklyn Borough President. Melinda Katz is the queens borough president elect while Ed Mangano retained his seat as county executive of Long Island.
And in the most controversial race of the election season, 20-year incumbent Brooklyn district attorney, Charles Hynes lost in his bid to run as a Republican to retain the post he lost in the September Primary election. Hynes secured 28 percent of the votes compared to a whopping 71 for Ken Thompson.
NATIONALLY
In New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie back his post of governor of the Garden state with 60.5 percent of the votes to Barbara Buono 38.2 percent and in Virginia, Terry McAuliffe, managed to pull off a win over Republican Ken Cuccinelli in the hotly contested Virginia governor’s race, 48 to 45.
