Robert Jackson Reelected To NY's State Senate

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — State Senator Robert Jackson has won another term in the State Senate representing the 31st District after defeating Melinda Crump on Tuesday night, according to NY1.

With 100 percent of the in-person voting precincts reporting as of 12:04 a.m., Jackson won with 87 percent of the vote compared to Crump's 13 percent, according to NY1. New York will not count absentee ballots until next week.

For live election results as they come in, sign up for Patch Washington Heights.

The 31st District spans much of Manhattan's west side, including parts of the Garment District, Hell's Kitchen, the Upper West Side, Washington Heights, Inwood, Harlem and a slice of Marble Hill in The Bronx.

Jackson lives in Washington Heights and has held the seat since 2019. He is currently a member of the Civil Service and Pensions, Education, Higher Education, Housing, Construction and Community Development, Labor, and New York City Education committees.

Jackson told Patch that the coronavirus is the single most pressing issue currently facing our community.

"We can't accept just getting back to what was, we need to make things better for vulnerable communities through finally fully funding our schools, making healthcare accessible, protecting tenants and affordable housing, and creating good jobs for people to raise a family," Jackson said.

On the other side of the ballot, Crump, who works as a media relations consultant, also told Patch that coronavirus was a major factor in her decision to run for office.

"New York has been hit hard by the virus as lives have been lost, businesses have been closed, and people are leaving the city for greener pastures," Crump said.

"This is the greatest city, and it's time to implement policy and plans so that businesses, industries, families, and individuals will be able to thrive in the future. We can create a new normal that is strong, prosperous, and resilient."

Jackson and Crump both responded to Patch's candidate surveys, which you can read below.

• NY State Senate Election 2020: Robert Jackson Defends Seat
• NY State Senate Election 2020: Melinda Crump Challenges For Seat