Bipartisan Grumbling Over Possible June Primary In NYC

Steve Stites

* The state is currently deciding whether to move New York City’s primary next year from September to June, which will affect not only the mayor’s race but scores of down ticket City Council races. Organizers on both sides of the aisle are already grumbling about it. “It’s all but certain,” Republican political consultant Steve Stites said. “It’s complicating something that is already complicated. Now you’ll be doing petitioning in the winter, collecting signatures in March, and there won’t be people on summer vacation helping you. Turnout is low ordinarily, and now the whole prime voter base is doubly important.” Stefan Ringel, a spokesman for City Councilman Jumaane Williams and a Democratic organizer, says the change will benefit incumbents running for re-election and any candidates with high name recognition. “A lot of incumbents will be protected and they will have a leg up on opponents,” Ringel said. “It’s going to change the calculus of the field. It’s going to put a lot more emphasis on the phone over volunteer canvassing, which nobody wants. It’s going to be fascinating to see the changes.”