It might have been pouring cats and dogs in the morning hours, but that didn’t stop voters and supporters from turning out to polling sites in the heated 45th Council District Democratic Primary.
This is a rematch for current City Councilwoman Farah Louis and her challenger Monique Chandler-Waterman, who is looking for a big win tonight. Louis won the special election back in May for the district which includes East Flatbush, Flatbush, Flatlands, Marine Park, and Midwood. Louis will serve the remainder of the term for the 45th Council District until Dec. 31 but due to election laws she will have to be re-elected to hold the seat until 2021.
Though Louis and Chandler-Waterman are considered the front-runners, other candidates in the race include Jovia Radix, Xamayla Rose, Anthony Alexis, Victor Jordan, Rickie Tulloch and Adina Sash.
Chandler-Waterman is looking to take over the second half of the term. She alongside her strongest ally Public Advocate Jummane Williams were out canvassing earlier today for votes outside of PS 269, the largest polling site in the district on the corner of Nostrand and Foster Avenues.
“You know it was pouring earlier but people have been trickling in and we are hoping that more people come out later tonight,” said Chandler-Waterman, who went on to note the back-to-back elections has left some confused. “I think some people are aware but I think a lot of people aren’t aware so it’s about getting the vote out. But people in the community are aware that there is a race because we have been knocking on a lot of doors over and over again. The few that don’t know, I just make sure to tell people to ‘tell your friends.”
“We saw the weather and we assumed it was going to be low in the morning. Which is better than having a lower voter turnout at night. We are expecting a win for Monique Chandler-Waterman. And what I do know is that everyone should come together and support the Democratic nominee at 9:01,” said Williams.
This particular race alongside the previous special election has been a brutal battle and war among the communities in the 45th Council District, with many divisions being drawn amongst Caribbean, Haitian and Jewish lines. Many claim that Louis won last months election due to a Haitian-Jewish voting bloc that Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte orchestrated, which is set to be tested tonight.
Though Louis wasn’t present at the voting site, one of her allies was, Sam Pierre, who felt confident about a victory tonight and in the results going in Louis favor.
“In the special election we won by a landslide and that just doesn’t happen when you wake up one morning and are like “oh I won.” There is a lot of strategy. There was a lot of strategy and thought that was put in. Farah has put in the work for this district. I think it’s going to be a low turnout and we are going to win, but I think it’s going to be closer than last time,” said Pierre.
As of 10:30 a.m., 250 people had voted at P.S. 269, according to the polling site coordinator. The site had no line and only a handful of actual voters inside at around noon.
On the other side of the district, at polling site P.S. 193 in the heart of the Jewish constituency, voters were overwhelming in support of Louis. With many walking in voting for her and brushing past canvassers saying things like, “I already know Farah Louis” and “I am voting for Farah, I don’t need a flyer.”
One big supporter was George Weill who also was proud to vote even having mailers stuck to his car for the big election day in favor of Louis.
“I voted for Farah Louis because I was told that she is going to be taking over from Jumaane and I know she is going to do a good job. She is going to do the work and help our community,” said Weil who went push back against the idea that the Orthodox Jewish community is all registered Republicans. “Of all the years that I have been here, in the United States I have always been a Democrat.”
One Louis canvasser at the polling site located on the corner of Avenue L and Gil Hodges Way, Jean Romulus, 33, claimed that the overwhelming majority of Jewish voters casting a ballot today were favoring his candidate.
“I would say that at 90 percent or more of today’s voters have been Jewish. And my favorite response today that shows the overwhelming response of the Jewish community for Farah is “yea Farah, we know what to do,” said Romulus.
One canvasser that was supporting Chandler-Waterman, Robert Ramos, claimed that the neighborhood wasn’t being as responsive to his flyers, even shrugging them off.
“Some people have taken it but I will have to agree with Jean’s analysis-a lot of people who have been voting at this poll site are Jewish and have said they are voting for Farah. Only a few people of color have gone in to vote,” said Ramos, who went onto note the power of a voting bloc in deciding and getting favored candidates into office.
“I think that people in the Jewish community do sometimes vote as a bloc. I think that is a positive thing and something that all different groups of people could potentially do when they unite and come together for a candidate,” said Ramos.
At P.S. 193 as of around 2 p.m, about 263 votes were cast. The site was practically empty with no lines and maybe one or two people inside casting a vote in the early afternoon.
Polls are open until 9 p.m. tonight. To find your polling site click here: https://nyc.pollsitelocator.com/Search.aspx
