Martin Dilan Likes His Chances in Primary

State Sen. Martin Dilan and New York City Councilwoman Diana Reyna, who’s backing Dilan’s challenger, staked out their corners at MS 250 inWilliamsburgthis afternoon.

State Sen. Martin Dilan on primary day (photo by Aaron Short)

This year, Dilan is facing a competitive race for the first time in a decade. But he’s confident about his chances and pointed to his work on affordable housing, transportation, and job creation, and his familiarity with the voters.

“Voters are very smart, and you have a candidate who moved into the district and doesn’t have a record,” he told City & State. “All he’s done is attack. He’s run a very negative campaign. That’s because he doesn’t have a record.”

But Reyna, who is supporting Jason Otano, a heavy underdog, thinks the race will be close. And she knows a thing or two about close races: three years ago she was glad handing supporters in a frenzy, en route to a nail biting 250-vote victory over Maritza Davila.

“Turnout has been slow,” Reyna said. “[Martin] hasn’t had an opponent in 10 years so he has to reactivate his base. I think it’s a toss up.”

So far, no sign of Vito Lopez either. He’s made the school one of his traditional stops on past election days.