Tuesday saw major primary elections pit moderate and leftist Democrats against each other. The (still non-finalised) results constitute a shot in the arm for a movement subjected to a string of ever more sour defeats so far this year.
Long-time incumbent Eliot Engel was defeated by a local African-American educator, Jamaal Bowman, by almost 12 thousand votes. Elsewhere minority candidates fared similarly well; in NY15, an open seat, Ritchie Torres easily won in a multicandidate field, and will become one of the first out LGBT African-American congressman. One of the first, because NY17 nominated Mondaire Jones, a gay man described by the New York Times as “a favourite of the activist left”.
In NY14, AOC crushed centrist Michelle Caruso-Cabrera in a 53% romp (73% - 20%), cementing her grip on the diverse, urban district.
In Kentucky the Senate primary between Amy McGrath, who says she would have voted for Brett Kavanaugh, and Charles Booker, a progressive black state Senator endorsed by most of the State party, remains too close to call.
Overall it looks like a good night for the left and for minority candidates.
Written by Harrison Moore
Media by Ben Hyland
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