Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the two-term incumbent, turned back a challenge from actress and activist Cynthia Nixon in the New York Democratic primary election Thursday Night.

The Associated Press called the race for Cuomo with fewer than 33 percent of precincts reporting their results. Cuomo will face Republican Marc Molinaro, the current Dutchess County executive, in November's general election.

 

 

The primary campaign highlighted Cuomo’s use of smash mouth politics, his $31 million war chest that pumped cash into a steady stream of TV and digital ads and his ability to maintain a stitched-together coalition of Democratic voters in union households, western New York and among people of color.

In the race for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James earned the nod over Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, Fordham law professor Zephyr Teachout and ex-Cuomo economic development aide Leecia Eve. The AP called the race for James -- who was endorsed by Cuomo -- at 10:30 p.m. During May’s state Democratic convention, James' candidacy was embraced by establishment Democrats with open arms.

James, 59, would become the first black woman to hold a statewide elected office in New York if she prevails in the general election, where she will be heavily favored. Trump nemesis Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat, abruptly resigned from the post in May amid allegations he physically abused women he dated.

James will face Republican Keith Wofford, a partner at the law firm Ropes & Gray in the city and the first African-American Republican nominee for attorney general, in the general election November 6.

James has pledged to serve as a bulwark against President Donald Trump’s policies in New York, continuing much of the spirit of the work of Barbara Underwood, who was appointed by the Legislature after Schneiderman’s resignation.

In the race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, incumbent Kathy Hochul turned back a challenge from Brooklyn City Councilman Jumaane Williams.

Hochul, a former congresswoman from Buffalo, now moves on to the November general election as the running mate of Cuomo, who first picked her to run beside him in the 2014 election.

Polls gave her a big advantage going into Thursday’s primary.

Hochul spent much of the campaign touting the Cuomo administration’s achievements while Williams, a New York City councilman, promised to serve as a check on Cuomo if elected.

Under New York law, candidates for lieutenant governor and governor run separately during the primary but as a single ticket in the general election.

Julie Killian is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor and will run alongside Molinaro.

For more, read our State of Politics blog.