News

How Did NYLCV’s Candidates Fare in The Primary Election?

After receiving questionnaires and a rigorous screening process, we made endorsements in 26 races that had a competitive primary election this week.

Around the state, NYLCV has been pushing mayors, town supervisors, and local legislators to step up their environmental advocacy. Fighting climate change, protecting open spaces and waterways, and ensuring no community has to bear undue environmental burdens have become central themes for our partners in local government. This is in no small part thanks to continued advocacy from members like you.

We are proud of this progress but saying the right things and voting the right way is not enough anymore. The winds of change in Washington have turned and we can’t rely on the federal government to protect us from so-called 500-year storms like Hurricanes Harvey and Irma that are happening on an almost annual basis. Major cities, counties and towns must set the example on curbing climate change while ensuring that we are prepared for the inevitable next extreme weather event.

That’s the charge we put on candidates seeking our endorsement this year. After receiving questionnaires and a rigorous screening process, we made endorsements in 26 races that had a competitive primary election this week.

We’re pleased to report that 22 of these green leaders won, with 2 races too close to call and just 2 losses. We are excited by new leaders who won yesterday and are poised to join the front lines if they win again in November including: Jack Schnirman, who is running for Nassau County Comptroller and Keith Powers, Carlina Rivera and Justin Brannan, who are running for New York City Council.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, as well as a number of other incumbents, stepped up their environmental leadership over the course of their last term but faced tough challenges. They earned our endorsement and won handily yesterday too.

For a detailed list of how our candidates performed, check out the table, below.

We have high expectations for our endorsed candidates in their next terms, assuming they all win in November. We will have a lot of returning faces but the world is changing fast. We will need them to change and adapt to it even faster, getting out in front of huge environmental challenges.

ChapterFirst NameLast NameOffice/PositionDistrictPrimary Result
Capital RegionKathySheehanMayorAlbanyWin
Capital RegionDorceyApplyrsAlbany Common Council1Win
Capital RegionLeahGolbyAlbany Common Council10Loss
Long IslandJackSchnirmanCounty ComptrollerNassau Win
New York CityBillde BlasioMayorNew York CityWin
New York CityLetitiaJamesPublic AdvocateNew York CityWin
New York CityRubenDiaz, Jr.Borough PresidentBronxWin
New York CityMargaretChinCity Council1Too Close
New York CityCarlinaRiveraCity Council2 Win
New York CityKeithPowersCity Council4Win
New York CityBenKallosCity Council5Win
New York CityHelenRosenthalCity Council5Win
New York CityMarkLevineCity Council7Win
New York CityRobertRodriguezCity Council8Too Close
New York CityBillPerkinsCity Council9Win
New York CityYdanisRodriguezCity Council10Too
New York CityMarjorieVelazquezCity Council13Loss
New York CityPaulValloneCity Council19Win
New York CityPeterKooCity Council20Win
New York CityDaneekMillerCity Council27Win
New York CityElizabethCrowleyCity Council30Win
New York CityAntonioReynosoCity Council34Win
New York CityCarlosMenchacaCity Council38Win
New York CityJustinBrannanCity Council43Win
New York CityDebiRoseCity Council49Win
WestchesterTomRoachMayorWhite PlainsWin