Two big upsets highlighted primary day for the
Democrats in the Hudson Valley.
Six term Westchester County Legislator MaryJane Shimsky beat
incumbent Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti in the 92nd District. This will affect people in
Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant, and parts of Yonkers. Abinanti has spent 12 years in
the assembly, but now Shimsky could take over. She thinks her focus on issues
that matter to you --- like infrastructure, the environment, and housing affordability -- helped her win. Shimsky says next she'll meet with anyone who will
talk to her about what her priorities should be. "What I should start
doing to help make the 92nd Assembly
District better for the people who are
in it? I promise you just like at the board of legislators that is going to be my
first thought in the morning, my last thought when I go to bed at night,” she says. “Thank you so much for their help and support and now
onward to November and January.” Shimsky thanked Abinanti for his work and said the
race in November shouldn't be too hard -- but her team still needs to come
together to be sure of a win.
Progressive political newcomer Sarahana
Shrestha beat incumbent Kevin Cahill in the race for the 103rd
District. Cahill, who served one term in 1993, has been reelected
every two years since 1999. Shrestha
is the Ulster co-chair for the Mid-Hudson Valley chapter of Democratic Socialists
of America -- and picked up endorsements from Representatives Jamaal Bowman and
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Her campaign focused on
universal health care, more criminal justice reform, and a Green New Deal
for New York. Shrestha will now face
Republican Patrick Sheehan in the November general election.
In another
tight race Ossining Town
Supervisor Dana Levenberg is the projected Democratic winner for the 95th State
Assembly race this November -- meaning she will face retired music teacher and
longtime Briarcliff Manor resident Stacy Halper in November. Levenberg defeated former Peekskill Council member
Vanessa Agudelo and two-term Westchester Legislator Colin Smith. The Democratic seat opened up after Assemblywoman
Sandy Galef announced her retirement after 30 years in that role. Halper will have an uphill battle going into November
as this district is very clearly a Democrat dominated district.