Meg Cameron Surges Ahead of Otis,

Bowman Declares Victory Over Engel

 

In early and unofficial results in the June 23 Democratic primary race for the 91^st Assembly District seat, challenger Meg Cameron held a surprising lead over incumbent Steve Otis. The New York State Board of Elections showed Cameron with 2,071 votes, slightly over 50%, and Otis with 1,498, slightly over 36%. Thirteen percent of the ballots were blank in the race.

 

In a statement, Otis referred to the fact that as many as 10,000 mail-in votes would not be counted until early July. “I look forward to the full count,” he said. Before we went to press on June 24, Cameron told the paper, “I’m thrilled with the result and grateful to my supporters.” She added, “I will honor the process and won’t declare victory. The exact vote will be clearer after the absentee ballots are counted.”

 

Another primary challenger, Jamaal Bowman, declared victory, after appearing to have upset Congressman Eliot Engel, currently Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, in his bid for a fifth term in the 16^th Congressional District, after 11 terms in the 17^th C.D. In unofficial results, Bowman held a commanding lead, 27,174 votes, over 60%, to Engel’s 15,372, 34%. Engel’s campaign said the candidate believed that every absentee ballot should be counted.