Odell, Maloney and Harckham winners in Putnam on Primary DayFree Access



County Executive Mary Ellen Odell was victorious in a Conservative Party Primary Thursday by tallying 292 votes. Her opponent in the November general election, Kent Supervisor Maureen Fleming challenged the incumbent with a write-in campaign. Although no write-ins were tabulated on Primary Day evening at the Board of Elections office, 71 write-in votes were cast.

Fleming was victorious in her bid to keep the Women’s Equality line by receiving three votes. There were no write-in ballots cast.

In the Attorney General’s race, Putnam’s favorite son Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney was the victor in Putnam’s six towns although he lost the race statewide to Letitia James. In Putnam, Maloney tabulated 2,159 votes to James 902 ballots; Leecia Eve received 87 votes and Zephyr Teachout received 1,902 votes.

In the 40th District State Senate Democratic Primary, Peter Harckham narrowly defeated Robert Kesten in Putnam by a tally of 1,240 to 1,121. The district also encompasses sections of northern Westchester and southern Dutchess.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo was victorious across Putnam receiving 62 percent of the vote to Cynthia Nixon’s 38 percent while Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul defeated Jumaane Williams in the county with a 58 percent to 41 percent margin.

 

Earlier story from Tuesday:

Election Day is Thursday across Putnam County, when voters enrolled as registered Democrats, Conservatives, Reform Party and Women’s Equality Party go to the polls to ballot for candidates seeking state and local offices.

Democrats will decide whether Governor Andrew Cuomo becomes the party’s designated candidate or his challenger Cynthia Nixon. The race has drawn late interest because of the snafu in opening the second span of the new Tappan Zee, as well as a mailer by the state Democratic party that questioned Nixon’s support for Jewish issues. The mailer was widely seen as a late hit and an unfair characterization – perhaps deliberately so – of her views. Cuomo denied knowledge of the mailer.

Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul is also facing a primary challenge from her opponent Jumaane Williams.

Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney of Cold Spring is one of four candidates seeking to become the Democratic nominee for Attorney General. He is being opposed by Letitia James, Leecia Eve and Zephyr Teachout.

A trio of candidates is waging a primary fight on the Reform Party line for AG as well, including Nancy Sliwa, Mike Diederich and Christopher Garvey.

Two candidates, both endorsed by the Putnam County Democratic Committee, are fighting it out Thursday to determine which man will oppose State Senator Terrence Murphy in November.

Peter Harckham and Robert Kesten are the candidates.

Harckham, a former fourterm Westchester County legislator, indicated he was running because “I cannot sit by while Donald Trump’s enablers in Albany block progress and opportunity for all New Yorkers.”

Harckham promised that within his first 30 days as a member of the NYS Senate, he will work to “pass the Reproductive Health Act, Child Victims Act and the Red Flag Bill. In addition to the Health Act and election reform, I will work towards expediting renewable energy goals while holding our utilities accountable for their abysmal storm response.”

Kesten believes that he is “best positioned” to defeat the incumbent in November: “With a year of campaigning under my belt, our team has built up a strong field operation for fundraising while having Democratic committee and activist group support. This isn’t about party. It isn’t about conservative or progressive but is about the people of the district who are frustrated and angry about the status quo. The corruption in Albany and the failed opportunity to pass important legislation keep us low in voter turnout and high in officials going to prison.”

The only race on the county level Thursday is a Conservative and Women’s Equality Opportunity to Ballot between County Executive MaryEllen Odell, the GOP candidate, and her challenger Kent Supervisor Maureen Fleming, who has been endorsed by the Democrats.

Odell received Conservative Party support earlier this year and Fleming is waging the write-in campaign in an attempt to wrestle the nomination away from the county executive. Additional party lines, particularly the Conservative line in Putnam County, are usually beneficial to a candidate’s prospects.

Fleming is also the candidate of the Women’s Equality Party. Odell is waging an Opportunity to Ballot on that line.

Polls across the county are open from 6 am to 9 pm on Thursday.

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