10:30 a.m. – Far from the polls, Hochul says ‘Let’s go Bills’
On primary day, the governor cut the ribbon on her favorite team’s new stadium.
Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul / Screenshot
Where in the world is Gov. Kathy Hochul? Not getting out the vote on primary day. She gave remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Highmark Stadium, the new home of the Buffalo Bills, which the state chipped in $650 million for.
That cash, included as a surprise last-minute addition to Hochul’s first budget, was controversial. But the governor said it was important to get it done.
“I knew that I would not be the governor who had on her tombstone, ‘She let the Bills get away,’” Hochul said. “I would not let that be the case.” She added that one of her first calls after ascending to the governorship was to the Pegulas, the billionaire owners of the Bills, “because I was hearing that they’re a little frustrated that they weren’t feeling the right amount of interest from the state.”
The governor did at least allude to the politics today, but as a means of hyping up the unity of the Bills mafia. “There’s so much divisiveness in society today, elections, all the ads that drive everybody nuts, and you just feel like we’re getting pulled further and further apart,” she said. “But when you walk into this stadium, or you walk into a Bills bar, that all dissipates.” – Rebecca C. Lewis
9:10 a.m. – First primary day NYC voting numbers roll in
To no one’s surprise, the numbers are a lot lower than last year at this time.
The New York City Board of Elections put out its first set of voter check-ins just after 9 a.m., three hours after polls opened. After about 172,000 people voted early – far below the more than 735,000 who voted early in last year’s mayoral primary – roughly 25,000 people cast ballots in the first three hours of voting this morning. Manhattan had a slight edge over Brooklyn in that period, with 8,439 ballots cast to Brooklyn’s 8,409. Both are home to competitive congressional races. Meanwhile, the Bronx had 2,503 votes cast in that time and in Queens, another 4,583. Staten Island saw just 360 votes in that time. – Sophie Krichevsky
8:30 a.m. – Park Slopers evaluate their Congress member
Polls favor Lander, but Goldman voters are still hopeful
Holly Pretsky/City & State NY
Former Mike Bloomberg press secretary Jennifer Falk greeted voters outside William Alexander Middle School in Park Slope. She was handing out lit for Rep. Dan Goldman, who she said was more equipped than Brad Lander to handle federal policy. A voter approached her and said “tell Dan to kick Brad’s butt,” and called Lander a “self-hating Jew.” Leaving the poll site was Lawson Shadburn, who said he voted for Lander in part because “I’m a concerned Jew who’s very worried about how U.S. policy towards Israel and Israel’s behavior is not good for Israel or for Jews.” – Holly Pretsky
8:15 a.m. – Brooklyn Dems get an early start
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
The streets of Crown Heights were pretty quiet this morning – perhaps in part due to the misty, gloomy weather – but the Brooklyn Dems are already out in full force. Across the street from a poll site on Nostrand Avenue and Prospect Place, a canvasser who signed up knowing she’d get paid for her efforts handed out palm cards encouraging residents to “vote for real Democrats.” The slate included all incumbents: Rep. Yvette Clarke, Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, State Committee Members Michelle Tégé and Anthony Beckford, plus Brooklyn Dems leader Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn’s pick for civil court judge, Michelle DeSouza.
Pretty quiet at the polls walking around Crown Heights this morning so far, but Kings County Dems are already out and about. Just spoke to a paid canvasser who was wearing a Tégé for DL shirt and handing out this pic.twitter.com/RuRwGkoHgW
— Sophie Krichevsky (she/her/hers) (@skrichev13) June 23, 2026
The Brooklyn Dems have been pushing hard to reelect their sitting district leaders here in Assembly District 43, sending out numerous mailers, handing out flyers and even sending text blasts in recent weeks. It comes as Bichotte Hermelyn looks to defend her chairship – and the Democratic machine – from reformers like the New Kings Democrats. There are 10 contested DL races across the borough, and the outcomes could determine who leads the party. – Sophie Krichevsky
7:30 a.m. – Mamdani votes with DAC
The mayor started the day in East Harlem with the DSA-backed challenger
Rebecca C. Lewis/City & State
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani briefly joined Darializa Avila Chevalier in East Harlem before she cast her vote in her race against Rep. Adriano Espaillat.
“As a Black woman, as a Dominican woman, as a daughter of immigrants, it is my honor to have run a campaign that centers working people, and it is my privilege to be able to vote today,” Avila Chevalier told reporters. She has faced racist attacks in recent days questioning her Dominican ethnicity and her place in the Dominican diaspora.
Avila Chevalier is one of a slate of congressional candidates that Mamdani has endorsed that has put him at odds with other members of Democratic Party leadership, as well as with incumbents. The races are viewed broadly as a test of the mayor’s influence after a historic victory last year, as well as the power of DSA, which has endorsed Avila Chevalier, as well Claire Valdez, for Congress.
“I think what we have here is an opportunity to elect partners to help fulfill our affordability agenda,” Mamdani said when asked whether he felt he had a lot on the line today. “I’ve spoken to New Yorkers time and time again about my focus being the transformation of the nation’s most expensive city into one that we can afford, and we can only achieve that if we have partners in Washington. And in Darializa, in Claire, in Brad (Lander), I see those partners.”
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, a fellow progressive running against the DSA-backed Valdez, has said he is committed to being a partner to the mayor as well. But Mamdani reiterated Valdez’s loyalty in the organizing space when asked if he thought Reynoso wouldn’t be a partner.
“I think what we look at is, someone in Claire Valdez, is a track record, is someone who has been there time and time again,” Mamdani told reporters. “I stand here today as the mayor. However, when I launched that campaign, there was only one elected official at my launch, and that was Claire Valdez, and that was because she knew it was a fight for working people.”
Mamdani met up with Valdez afterwards, per her X post. – Rebecca C. Lewis
6 a.m. – Top congressional races
Open seats and bold insurgent challenges
This year’s congressional races are not just about a changing of the guard. They’re also a test of whether there will be significant coattails following New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s historic victory. Will his endorsement win elections? And will the Democratic Socialists of America – and its army of energized organizers, volunteers and followers – turn out again in strong numbers? Here are the 2026 NYC congressional races to watch.
6 a.m. – Polls open
Which state legislative races we’re watching.
There’s sure to be a changing of the guard in Albany come January, but less certain is exactly what that will look like. Many of these races are in New York City, but there are plenty throughout the state too. While some races pit establishment Democrats against the left, others pit the left against the far left. And affordability will continue to be a major theme across the board. Here are the 2026 state legislative primary races to watch.
