Julia Salazar Wins Bushwick State Senate Race

BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN — Julia Salazar defeated Martin Malave Dilan in the Democratic primary Thursday.

Registered Democrats in District 18 elected Salazar as their candidate on Sept. 13, as New Yorkers across the state took to the polls to chose their party's nominees for seats in the state Legislature.

Salazar had captured 17,126 votes and a 16-point lead against Dilan when NY1 called the election in her favor.

Dilan had only 12,351, or about 42 percent, when 80 percent of the votes in his district had been counted, city voting records show.

Salazar, a Democratic socialist, cast herself as the young, progressive candidate to fight the onslaught of gentrification in north Brooklyn in hopes of unseating Dilan, who has represented Bushwick, parts of Bed-Stuy, East New York, Greenpoint and Williamsburg since 2002.

The 27-year-old's campaign was rocky, with questions about her religion, family background, a scandal involving Mets player Keith Hernandez and alleged degree from Columbia University causing some of her initial backers to step back.

Dilan was not the only incumbent lost to a progressive challenger in Brooklyn; Crown Heights state Senator Jesse Hamilton lost to newcomer Zellnor Myrie.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Kathy Hocul faced off against activist and former actress Cynthia Nixon and Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams.

Also up for grabs is the position of attorney general, which Public Advocate Letitia James, law professor Zephyr Teachout, Verizon lobbyist Leecia Eve and U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney all hope to claim.

The winners of the Thursday race will face off against Republican candidates in the Nov. 6 general election.

Photos by Kathleen Culliton and courtesy of Martin Malavé Dilan's office