Rockland Dems Overwhelm Westchester In 38th Senate Primary

State Sen. David Carlucci narrowly defeated his challenger in the Democratic Primary yesterday for the 38th District State Senate seat. He will face former Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef in November — their second time fighting for this post.

He is one of only two members of the Independent Democratic Conference, which disbanded this spring, to survive the primaries.

His challenger, Julie Goldberg, ran to the left of Carlucci and came within 2,000 votes. Overall she had 44 percent of the vote while Carlucci picked up 51.6 percent. Goldberg's strength was in the only Westchester section of this bizarrely drawn election district.

The 38th comprises the towns of Clarkstown, Orangetown and Ramapo in Rockland County and, on the east side of the Hudson River, the town of Ossining in Westchester County.

In Westchester, Goldberg picked up 67 percent of the vote. But she only got 40 percent of the vote in Rockland County, where both live.

Vote totals:

Rockland

• Carlucci - 11,148
• Goldberg - 7,898

Westchester

• Carlucci - 1,172
• Goldberg - 2,641

Total district

• Carlucci - 12,320
• Goldberg - 10,539
• blank - 869

There are 84,000 active enrolled Democrats in the district: 73,000 in Rockland and 10,000 in Westchester.

Carlucci issued a statement:

Julie Goldberg was an outstanding candidate. I admire her tremendous courage and fierce passion for Democratic ideals. I hope to work with her and those Democrats who voted for me and against me to defeat Republican Scott Vanderhoef in November. Thank you to thosse who supported me and our campaign. I am as always humbled by your trust in me.

Carlucci survived a repudiation of the Independent Democratic Conference by primary voters.

SEE: Biaggi Wins Over Incumbent Klein In 34th Senate District Primary

Six Democratic state senators who were members of the now-defunct Independent Democratic Conference — which collaborated with Republicans — lost a primary challenge this time around, including their leader, Jeff Klein, who represents Westchester and the Bronx. Only Carlucci and Diane Savino of Staten Island won their primary challenges.

About the IDC backlash, Carlucci said:

Our volunteers and staff knocked on thousands of doors, drove people to the polls and got out the vote on social media. We knew the race was about getting our people to show up and they did. I can't comment on other campaigns, but will say there's a divide in the Democratic Party and it's time for us to come together and unite behind our democratic ideals.

Carlucci and Vanderhoef, who was Rockland's county executive for 20 years, squared off once before, in 2010. They were vying for the same seat, which had been held by state Sen. Thomas Morahan.