Richardson Leads In Central Brooklyn Assembly Race

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — State Assembly Member Diana Richardson held a clear lead Tuesday night over her primary opponent, but the race remained undecided as thousands of absentee votes remained uncounted.

Results showed Richardson holding about 69 percent of the vote over former state Sen. Jesse Hamilton in the Democratic primary for 43rd Assembly District, according to Board of Elections results.

But it could take days to count up to 700,000 citywide absentee ballots that were requested by voters stuck at home by new coronavirus.

That potentially leaves a scorched-earth race between Richardson and Hamilton undecided as long.

Richardson dubbed her opponent "Shamilton" and attacked his membership in the state Senate's Independent Democratic Conference — a group of Democrats who caucused with Republicans.

Hamilton, in turn, accused Richardson of lying about him. He also apparently tussled with state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a close progressive ally of Richardson who took Hamilton's seat in Albany.

The 43rd Assembly district covers Crown Heights and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.