The support of two of the most prominent women in New York politics helped Colleen Deacon secure the nomination for the 24th congressional district in Tuesday's primary. She enjoyed endorsements by Hillary Clinton and Kirsten Gillibrand to boost her first-time candidacy among democrats.
Deacon topped Eric Kingson and Steve Williams in the contest. Kingson enjoyed attention late in the race when Bernie Sanders endorsed him and held an event in Syracuse with the candidate. Deacon ran largely on issues such as equal rights, pay equity and women's health issues. She drew 49% of the vote, while Kingson tallied 32% and Williams got 19%.
Deacon will run against incumbent John Katko in the November election. Katko is finishing up his first term in congress.
22nd DISTRICT RACE GOP PRIMARY
The race among three Republicans in the 22nd district proved to be a little tighter. Claudia Tenney got 41% of the vote, Steve Wells finished second with 34% and George Phillips drew 25%.
Tenney, due to the primary win, replaces Richard Hanna on the republican ballot, after he announced his retirement effective at the end of the current term.
That leaves the race wide open, with political newcomer Kim Myers holding the democratic nomination.
Tenney is currently a state assembly member and ran unsuccessfully against Hanna for the GOP congressional nomination in 2014. Wells and Phillips have not said if they would try and run for the seat as independents.
They might not be likely to back her nomination, after the contentious campaign that drew in millions of dollars from Oneida Nation Leader Ray Halbritter, trying to stop Tenney from winning. She credited the voters for not being swayed by that opposition campaigning.
Both primary elections drew low turnout. In the 24th district there are 140,000 registered democrats; only 12,000 voted - less than 9%. Turnout was a little better in the 22nd district, with 155,000 republicans, where 22,000 voted.
