The June 25 Democratic primaries in Brooklyn have wrapped up with few surprises and easy victories for the incumbents in every challenged district, according to unofficial results from the city’s Board of Elections — even in some races considered among the most contentious in the city.
Turnout was fairly low for the primary election, and relatively few races in Brooklyn were contested at all — only one Congressional district, one state Senate district, and four state Assembly districts held Democratic primaries. All of the Republican races were canceled, with one or fewer candidates.
Congress
NY-10 – Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Cobble Hill, Red Hook, Gowanus, Prospect Heights, Park Slope, Sunset Park and lower Manhattan
In Congressional District 10, incumbent Democrat Dan Goldman secured the party nomination with more than 65% of votes, leaving his two challengers – Bruno Gransard and Evan Hutchinson — with 10.30% and 23.11% of the vote, respectively.
In November, Goldman will face off against Republican candidate Alexander Dodenhoff and Conservative candidate Paul Briscoe.
State Assembly
AD41 – East Flatbush, Sheepshead Bay, Flatlands, Midwood, and Canarsie
For the first time in 40 years, there was no incumbent in Assembly District 40 after longtime Democratic incumbent Helene Weinstein retired. Local Council Member Kalman Yeger clinched the Democratic nomination — and thus, the seat, since there are no Republicans on the ballot in November — in AD41 with 70.3% of the vote, trouncing challenger Adam Dweck.
Yeger also ran on the Republican and Conservative party lines.
AD50 – Williamsburg and Greenpoint
Money poured into the Democratic primary in AD50, and the race became one to watch as Anathea Simpkins gained donations and support — but that wasn’t enough to topple incumbent Emily Gallagher, who earned 75.38% of votes to Simpkins’ 20.73% and third candidate Andrew Bodiford’s 3.47%.
There are not expected to be any Republicans on the ballot in AD50 come November, so Gallagher will sail back to the statehouse. “North Brooklyn, this is your victory,” Gallagher said in a social media post sharing the election results on Tuesday night.
AD52 – Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Prospect Heights, Park Slope and Gowanus
Incumbent Democrat Jo Anne Simon sailed to victory over newcomer Scott Budlow in AD52, with 79.18% of votes to Budlow’s 20.33%. A Conservative Party candidate, Brett Wynkoop, will appear on the ballot in AD52 in November. Wynkoop also ran against Simon in AD52 in 2022, but lost with just 7.9% of votes.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the people in Brooklyn’s AD 52!” Simon said on social media on Tuesday night. “I’ll never stop fighting for you.”
AD56 – Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights
The contest between incumbent Democrat Stefani Zinerman and challenger Eon Huntley quickly became one of the hottest races in the city. Zinerman had support from local political heavyweights including U.S. Reps. Hakeem Jeffries and Yvette Clarke and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
But Huntley, who loudly criticized his opponent’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war, was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America and by local lawmakers including state Sen. Jabari Brisport and Assembly Member Phara Souffrant-Forrest.
The race was tight, but Zinerman won the Democratic nomination with 52.77% of votes, compared to Huntley’s 46.92%. Fewer than 8,200 people cast their ballots in AD56, according to unofficial BOE results, and Zinerman earned just 479 more votes than Huntley.
Zinerman will head back to Albany next year, as she is not facing a challenger in November.
State Senate
SD59 – Greenpoint, Williamsburg, parts of Queens and Manhattan
Incumbent Democrat Kristen Gonzalez easily beat her challenger Gus Lambropoulos, winning 84.96% of votes to Lambropoulos’ 14.72%. With no Republican challenger on the ballot in the general election, winning the primary means Gonzalez has won another term in the state Senate.
Civil Court Judge
6th Municipal Court District
In a lesser-known election to fill a vacant seat on the Civil Court bench, Democrat Janice Robinson, won the nomination over Kenneth Gayle – who was endorsed by Assembly Member and Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. Robinson, a longtime lawyer and Brooklyn native, earned 72.27% of the vote, compared to Gayle’s 26.12%.
What’s next?
Campaigning for the November general election will likely begin ramping up soon. Some districts that did not have primary elections will have more heated races come fall — like AD46, where Council Member Justin Brannan’s longtime chief of staff Chris McCreight, a Democrat, is running against incumbent Democrat Alec Brook-Krasny.
