Incumbents State Senator Andrew Gounardes (D-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Gerritsen Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marine Park) and Assemblymember Mathylde Frontus (D-Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights) appear to be well on their way to successfully defending their senatorial and assembly seats as the Board of Elections (BOE) wrap day three of counting mail-in, absentee, and affidavit ballots.
The buzzing energy of watching the counters had certainly slowed this Wednesday afternoon at 51-12 2nd Avenue in Sunset Park, compared to Monday’s crowd. Only a handful of campaign administrators on both sides in the 22nd Senatorial race, with Gounardes and Republican challenger Vito Bruno, were left pacing the factory floor.
Like starved hawks they circled the remaining groups, watching the counters work their way through the last districts.
A preliminary, uncertified count shows Gounardes in the lead by more than 1,800 votes when just yesterday he was the one trailing by about 1,200.
Democrats have also concluded that Frontus may defeat Republican Mark Szuskiewicz in the 46th Assembly District race by about 500 votes. Although, GOPers have insisted in that race that it’s entirely too close to call and are willing to take it to courts if necessary.
“It is the honor of my life to serve my community, and today as the remaining votes are counted, I am enormously grateful to the neighborhoods of southern Brooklyn for reelecting me to represent them in the State Senate. I will go back to Albany and continue to fight for our community while always remembering the values we share together: to help our neighbors in need and do what is right no matter what,” said Gounardes about the early victory.
Gounardes said that there were still immense challenges ahead in the months and years ahead, manifested and exacerbated by the pandemic, but promises to help his community recover justly and fairly.
“There were those who doubted us, but it was community volunteers and our legal team who never gave up on the importance of sending them back to represent us in Albany,” said Democratic Party Chair and Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte. “We were confident of our voters in these elections who would not let the challenges of the pandemic keep them from expressing their will at the ballot box. Brooklyn remains blue!”
“Just as we saw in the role mail-in ballots played in voting to send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House, our victories in Brooklyn are a great example of how the community and the grass-roots party worked together to secure these two seats,” said Bichotte. “We also want to congratulate the Board of Elections and poll workers for their tireless efforts. A diverse group of new and seasoned poll workers showed their commitment to civil service.”
