Alonso, Obama, Mouse pick up votes in Queens’ June primary
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By Jacob Kaye
What do Cyndi Lauper, Mickey Mouse, Pete Alonso and Rudy Giuliani all have in common? At least one Queens voter thought each was fit to serve as governor of the Empire State.
The city’s Board of Elections recently certified the results of June’s primary election for statewide offices, State Assembly and party positions, releasing the hundreds of write-in votes by residents throughout the state.
Queens voters were not as creative as they’ve been in years past – that could have something to do with the low turnout. However, those dissatisfied with the options on the ballot – or those with a sense of humor – still took to the write-in sections on the ballot to get their voices heard.
With the New York Mets in second place in the National League and with the New York Yankees atop the American League, some Queens voters felt that more rewarding than a World Series trophy would be the power vested in the governor or a judge.
Alonso, the All-Star first baseman from the New York Mets and league leader in runs batted in, picked up one vote in the governor’s race in Queens. New York Mets Francisco Lindor and Jacob deGrom each received a vote in the race for Civil Court judge. Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ outfielder who leads the league in home runs, picked up a vote for…well, judge.
There also appeared to be a number of confused Democrats voting in the party’s closed primary.
Democratic primary votes were cast for nearly every Republican gubernatorial candidate running in the Republican primary, including Andrew Giuliani, Rob Astorino, Harry Wilson and Lee Zeldin, who will face off against Governor Kathy Hochul in the general election in November.
Voters registered with the Democratic party also wrote in Republicans Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Rudy Giuliani.
Though he just recently dropped out of the race to represent lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn in Congress, at least one Queens voter believed Bill de Blasio should get a shot to serve in the governor’s office – though he never formally declared, rumors swirled for months about the former mayor’s intention to run for the seat.
Over 30 Queens voters thought former Governor Andrew Cuomo deserved another chance to serve in the role after resigning last year amid a sexual harassment and assault scandal.
At least one voter thought Cuomo’s father, the late Mario Cuomo, was primed for a fourth term and wrote his name onto their ballot.
Barack and Michelle Obama would have had to make the move to New York had the write-in campaign in Queens been more robust. Each received a vote in the borough – the former president received a vote for Civil Court judge and the former first lady received a vote for governor.
The socialist takeover of New York may be greatly exaggerated, as Vladimir Lenin only received support from one voter in the race for the Assembly.
Queens voters also put their foot down at the polls last month and said that cartoonish looks shouldn’t serve as an impediment to acting as a responsible and thoughtful lawmaker. Bugs Bunny, Spongebob Squarepants, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse all picked up votes in the borough.
Voters will head to the polls again on Aug. 23 for the primary elections for State Senate and congressional races. The primary elections were split earlier this year after the Court of Appeals ruled that the electoral maps drawn by the state Democrats as part of the redistricting process were unconstitutional.
Photo credits: AP photos by Nam Y. Huh/Carolyn Kaster/AP file photo
