After months of campaigning against one another, taking hard stances on issues that they both believed affected their district, the people of the 22nd state senate district made Andrew Gounardes their Democratic Party candidate to take on incumbent State Sen. Martin Golden (R) in the November general election.
According to the unofficial election results, Gounardes received 8,572 votes, or 51.75 percent of the vote. His opponent, Ross Barkan, received 6,235 votes, or 37.64 percent.
The race centered around issues that affect the district including education, immigration, and public transportation. Both candidates put out platforms with specifics on how to address each of these issues.
At the end of the day, the people chose Gounardes to take on Golden for the second time. Gounardes last ran against Golden in 2012.
At his victory party at Firefly in Bay Ridge, Gounardes and supporters seemed confident in his ability to take down the longtime state senator, pointing to the fact that Bay Ridge has gotten progressively “bluer” in recent years.
“I’m honored to be the Democratic nominee for New York State Senate District 22. New Yorkers across the district went to the polls and cast their ballot in today’s primary. I am thrilled and humbled to have received their vote of confidence. This is the first big step toward turning this district blue and taking back the State Senate,” Gournardes said, “We understand that we have an uphill climb to victory in November, but we look forward to the road ahead. Our grassroots campaign is the strongest and broadest ever assembled to defeat Marty Golden and we’re growing every day. We are tired of having our voices silenced, our concerns dismissed, and our values ignored. Together, we can and will stand up for the diverse voices of this great community and make sure that they are finally reflected by their representative in Albany.”
Gounardes said that the election is to help those in the district who need it most.
“What we’re fighting for are real ideas to make real improvements in every day people’s lives,” Gounardes added in his victory speech.
The district includes Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend, Manhattan Beach, and parts of Sheepshead Bay, Borough Park and Midwood.
The general election is Nov. 6.
