The September Primary, a solid indicator of who will win November’s General Election, is coming up in the Bronx. Several key Democratic races have heated up in the last few weeks before voters head to the polls on Sept. 13. The Norwood News breaks down some of those key races:

33rd State Senate District
Senator Gustavo Rivera of the 33rd Senate District and City Councilman Fernando Cabrera of the 14th Council District took part in a heated debate
on BronxTalk with Gary Axelbank. This is Cabrera’s second attempt at unseating Rivera, the incumbent who’s held the seat since 2011.

Cabrera’s district mostly overlaps with Rivera’s, with neighborhoods that include Kingsbridge, University Heights and Mt. Hope. Cabrera immediately accused Rivera of not bringing resources to the largely working class district and not passing any laws. Cabrera emphasized the $50 million in earmarks he brought to the district, which included the installation of surveillance cameras. Traditionally, it is easier for council members to bring in monies to a district when compared to Albany legislators. “He has a problem with the truth,” said Rivera, a repeated counter to Cabrera’s criticism throughout the debate.

Rivera defended the work he has done by highlighting three bills that have since been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo and explained his part in increasing school funding for this coming year. He also shot back at Cabrera for accepting money from landlords to advance his campaign, with housing conditions being a big topic of debate during this time.

“If he wants to talk about landlords giving me funding, then I guess I’m the Robin Hood because I’m the one who passed the Tenant Bill of Rights,” countered Cabrera.

 

 

36th State Senate District
The somewhat crowded race for the 36th Senate District seat, left vacant by Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson in July, sees five Democrats on the ballot: Jamaal T. Bailey, Pamela A. Hamilton-Johnson, Edward A. Mulraine, Alvin Ponder, and Rev. Que English.

 

Bailey, a protégé of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and his director of constituent services, is the frontrunner in the race, thanks to his relationship with Heastie, whose 83rd Assembly District overlaps with the 36th Senate District. Bailey’s also received heavy endorsements from labor unions and from Hassell-Thompson.

The district has a foot in Bronx and Westchester counties, making time for both areas a tough split for Hassell-Thompson’s successor. One of the major questions posed throughout the campaign is whether Norwood and Bedford Park, falling within the district’s coverage area, would be well represented going forward. Bailey and English assured the Norwood News their presence will be felt in the neighborhoods.

 

78th State Assembly District
Longtime Assemblyman José Rivera faces challenger Ischia Bravo, former executive director of the Bronx Democratic County Committee, in the seat for the state’s 78th Assembly District, which Rivera has held since 2002. The district covers Fordham, Kingsbridge, Belmont and Bedford Park. There’ve been several attempts made to unseat Rivera, once chair of the Bronx Democratic County Committee, but Rivera’s always managed to trounce his competition.

Bravo was recently interviewed on BronxTalk in what was intended to be a debate with Rivera, who did not appear on the show. Bravo, meantime, highlighted a Democratic platform that included her desire to grow tourism in the Bronx, improve the public school systems and insure tenants’ rights are protected. She didn’t offer specifics on how she would accomplish those goals.

“We don’t have someone now that’s working for us; we have someone now who is collecting a paycheck,” said Bravo of Rivera in a video she posted on Facebook shortly after her appearance on BronxTalk.

Rivera, deemed a trailblazer for Hispanic legislators in the Bronx, was recently listed as the least-performing lawmaker this year, according to an analysis article published by Politico New York. Although listed as co-sponsor and multi-sponsor to a number of bills, Rivera was the sponsor of only one bill this last legislative session, which saw the ongoing renewal of free admission Wednesdays at the Bronx Zoo. Despite his thin legislative record, Rivera did receive endorsements from 1199 SEIU and 32BJ SEIU, the nation’s largest labor unions.

In a statement, Rivera said “For the last 34 years I’ve been working hard for the people I represent. Fighting for funds that bring after-schools programs, funding for seniors centers and to build parks. I work to give the people what they need – and what they sometimes isn’t legislation.”

78th State Assembly District Leader

The race for female district leader for the 78th Assembly District pits newcomer Samelys Lopez against Nilda Velazquez, a longtime supporter of Assemblyman Jose Rivera who’s held the seat since 2014. Lopez, a Bedford Park resident and former Community Board 7 member, launched her grassroots campaign in June, cycling around the district to promote her name and get the necessary signatures to get on the ballot.

 

The race ranks among the least critical ones this election year, though it signals the ongoing attempt of seeing fresh blood within the 78th Assembly District and its slate of district leaders.

Editor’s Note: Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. across the Bronx during Primary Day.