By David Cruz

It will be business as usual in the November elections as the Bronx political landscape remained virtually unchanged following several hotly-contested races this year.

33^rd Senate District

In the race for the 33^rd Senate race, challenger Fernando Cabrera, Councilman for the 14^th District, found himself a loser. He emerged just before 11:30 p.m. on primary night flanked by supporters inside his campaign headquarters on Grand Concourse. He appeared an hour after the state’s unofficial results showed he lost the race, garnering only 36 percent of the vote against incumbent State Sen. Gustavo Rivera’s 55 percent.

“I’m grateful for the experience because I got to see who are my real friends,” said Cabrera, appearing teary-eyed as he delivered a ten-minute concession speech alongside his wife and hard-lined supporters.

But Cabrera also offered hopeful hints of a possible run in two years should Rivera fail to bring in state funding to the largely working poor district.

“If I’m still the only elected official bringing funding then I’m going to run again,” Cabrera told the Norwood News.

Cabrera also told the Norwood News that an oversized state district, a liberal media and lack of a proper campaign war chest is really what sunk his chances at winning.

“We were probably outdone at least four or five times,” said Cabrera. “Really, this was a work of love.”

The silver lining remained—Cabrera was still the Councilman for the 14^th District, covering Fordham, Kingsbridge Heights, University Heights and Mount Hope. In his speech, Cabrera highlighted the millions he’s allocated to community-based organizations and after school programs, which outmatches Rivera’s, who Cabrera admonished for bringing little.

“It’s very unfair that the 33^rd Senate District is not getting funding, when you see [Sen. Jeff] Klein, Senator Diaz Jr. getting funding.”

The celebrations were different at Escape Lounge on Jerome Avenue, where supporters flocked to the Latin eatery to cheer for Rivera.

In a statement following the unofficial final count, Rivera said the question of idealism “between real progressive values that help Bronx families, and the divisive, counterproductive politics of the past” was at stake.

“In the end, I’m truly grateful to see that our progressive message won the day,” said Rivera in his statement.

34th Senate District 

State Senator Jeff Klein emerged victorious over challenger Oliver Koppell. Klein launched an army of volunteers, knocking on doors, hanging posters and distributing leaflets for Klein, head of the Independent Democratic Conference. The unofficial final count from the state Board of Elections was 64.74 percent for Klein over Koppell’s 32.20 percent.

Money and power played a major role in the race for the 34th Senate District, a gerrymandered seat that covers Morris Park, Throggs Neck, Hunts Point, Pelham Parkway a sliver of Bedford Park and Riverdale. The middle class neighborhood in the northwest Bronx was the epicenter and perhaps harbinger in the battle between Klein and Koppell. But Klein went full force in Riverdale, using his millions of dollars in member items to fund causes and nonprofits, no match to Koppell who had retired from 40 years in politics before launching a bid against Klein.

“Tonight, your vote in this primary election has guaranteed a functioning government that delivers results,” Klein told supporters as Maestro’s, a catering hall in Morris Park. “For the past twenty years I have had the honor of serving you and your families and today you made it possible for me to continue to work for you doing the job I love.”

86th Assembly District

But perhaps one of the more surprising races happened in the 86th Assembly District, where the race remains too close to call. But incumbent Victor Pichardo still trails by a mere 11 votes against challenger Hector Ramirez, according to state election results. Ramirez, a Democrat and veteran district leader lost the primary a year back against Pichardo. Ramirez later charged that voting machines were tampered with, which he believes led to him losing the election to Pichardo.

It’s unclear whether Pichardo will ask for a federal inquiry on the matter. The too-close-to-call race could force the city Board of Elections to trigger a manual recount, though this would only happen once 100 percent of the district’s precincts would report.