Association highlights key races to watch in today’s primaries

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It’s federal primary day in New York, and the New York Credit Union Association has identified several significant races to watch:

star3 District 1 (Long Island)Incumbent: Rep. Lee Zeldin (R). Five Democrats will face off in the primary to determine who will face Zeldin in what is expected to be a grueling general election in November. This will be a competitive race, though experts say the race leans Republican.

star3 District 11 (Metropolitan)Incumbent: Rep. Dan Donovan (R). Donovan faces a primary challenge from the right from Michael Grimm, who previously held the seat but left office when he was convicted and sent to prison for tax evasion. The race is considered a tossup. Some polls show Grimm leading, but President Donald Trump has endorsed Donovan.

star3 District 14 (Metropolitan)Incumbent: Rep. Joe Crowley (D). Crowley, a member of the House Democratic leadership, is considered safe, but he is facing an unexpectedly spirited primary from the left in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

star3 District 19 (Catskill-Hudson/Capital/Southern Tier) – Incumbent: Rep. John Faso (R). Democrats have identified this as a vulnerable seat and it is viewed as a toss-up. This has attracted a crowded Democratic primary, where their ability to defeat the incumbent and flip the seat to the Democratic column has been the focus of the election, and substantive issues seem to have taken a back seat.

star3 District 24 (Central New York/Rochester)Incumbent: Rep. John Katko (R). Democrats Juanita Perez Williams and Dana Balter will face off in the primary. The winner will take on Katko in November in a key swing district. The district is rated as likely Republican, but the seat was formerly held by Dan Maffei, a Democrat, and it will be considered a tough race.

star3 District 25 (Rochester) – Four Democrats are vying for the seat left vacant by former Rep. Louise Slaughter, who died in March. Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, the majority leader, is among those seeking the nomination.

Additional primary races will be held today in the following districts:

star3 District 2 (Long Island) – Incumbent: Rep. Peter King (R). King is not a facing a primary challenge, but two Democrats are running for the chance to unseat the longtime congressman.

star3 District 5 (Metropolitan)Incumbent: Rep. Gregory Meeks (D). Meeks has two challengers, but this does not appear to be a competitive primary race.

star3 District 9 (Metropolitan)Incumbent: Rep. Yvette Clarke (D). Clarke faces a challenge from 30-year-old Harvard graduate Adem Bunkeddeko.

star3 District 12 (Metropolitan)Incumbent: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D). Maloney is facing a primary from Raj Patel, a 34 year old entrepreneur and former aide to President Barack Obama.

star3 District 16 (Metropolitan/Westchester-Rockland)Incumbent: Rep. Eliot Engel (D). Engel is being challenged by three first-time candidates, including two businessmen from Westchester County.

star3 District 21 (Adirondack/Utica-Rome/Central New York) – Incumbent: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R). Stefanik’s district was once held be a Democrat, and five members of the party are involved in a primary.

For general voting information, visit the Board of Elections website. To find a polling place, visit the state’s Voter Registration Search page.

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