Manhattan DA candidate Alvin Bragg enjoys election night lead

Denis Slattery

Alvin Bragg appeared poised to pull away from the pack Tuesday in a tight and crowded race for Manhattan district attorney.

Preliminary results from the Board of Elections showed Bragg with a slight lead in a field that included a total of eight Democrats vying to succeed retiring Cy Vance Jr. and become the borough’s top prosecutor.

Democratic candidate for Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg.
Democratic candidate for Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg.


Democratic candidate for Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg. (Barry Williams/)

Bragg, a Harvard-educated former New York state prosecutor, had 34.68% of the vote, about four percentage points ahead of former federal prosecutor Tali Farhadian Weinstein, who had 30.52%.

The narrow lead could change with absentee votes yet to be tallied, but it was a significant election night sign in one of the few city races in which ranked-choice voting was not a factor.

While Weinstein had endorsements from the likes of Hillary Clinton and spent more on the race than all of her competitors combined, Bragg was backed by Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference.

Democratic Manhattan DA candidate, Tali Farhadian Weinstein.
Democratic Manhattan DA candidate, Tali Farhadian Weinstein.


Democratic Manhattan DA candidate, Tali Farhadian Weinstein.

Throughout the race, Bragg emphasized his experience of disparities in the justice system toward Black people and vowed to take an aggressive approach to end mass incarceration and overhauling the DA’s sex-crimes unit if elected, among other steps.

Others in the race included Assemblyman Dan Quart (D-Manhattan), civil rights attorney Tahanie Aboushi, public defender Eliza Orlins and Alvin Bragg, a former prosecutor with the state attorney general’s office.

Residents vote during the New York City mayoral primary election at the Brooklyn Museum polling station on June 22, 2021, in New York City. New York City residents cast ballots in a Democratic primary on June 22, 2021, that will select the candidate almost certain to take over as mayor tasked with shaping the post-pandemic future of America's largest metropolis. Registered Democrats will choose from a diverse group of 13 candidates for the job, often called "the second-most difficult" in the United States after that of the president.
Democratic mayoral candidate Maya Wiley pets a voter's dog during a campaign stop near a polling place in the West Village neighborhood of New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Democratic mayoral candidate Maya Wiley pets a voter's dog during a campaign stop near a polling place in the West Village neighborhood of New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Democratic mayoral candidate Maya Wiley, center, is joined by New York State Assemblymember Deborah Glick, left, as she greets voters during a campaign stop near a polling place in the West Village neighborhood of New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Democratic mayoral candidate Maya Wiley, center, is joined by New York State Assemblymember Deborah Glick, left, as she greets voters during a campaign stop near a polling place in the West Village neighborhood of New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
A voter receives her ballot at Frank McCourt High School in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The final votes are set to be cast Tuesday in New York's party primaries, where mayors, prosecutors, judges and city and county legislators will be on the ballot, along with other municipal offices.
A voter receives her ballot at Frank McCourt High School in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The final votes are set to be cast Tuesday in New York's party primaries, where mayors, prosecutors, judges and city and county legislators will be on the ballot, along with other municipal offices.
Republican candidate for New York mayor Curtis Sliwa signs in to vote at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The final votes are set to be cast Tuesday in New York's party primaries, where mayors, prosecutors, judges and city and county legislators will be on the ballot, along with other municipal offices.
Republican candidate for New York mayor Curtis Sliwa signs in to vote at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The final votes are set to be cast Tuesday in New York's party primaries, where mayors, prosecutors, judges and city and county legislators will be on the ballot, along with other municipal offices.
Republican candidate for New York mayor Curtis Sliwa waits to vote at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Republican candidate for New York mayor Curtis Sliwa waits to vote at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Residents vote during the New York City mayoral primary election at the Brooklyn Museum polling station on June 22, 2021, in New York City.
Residents vote during the New York City mayoral primary election at the Brooklyn Museum polling station on June 22, 2021, in New York City.
Voters wait to mark their ballots at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Voters wait to mark their ballots at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
A resident checks in to vote during the New York City mayoral primary election at the Brooklyn Museum polling station on June 22, 2021, in New York City.
A resident checks in to vote during the New York City mayoral primary election at the Brooklyn Museum polling station on June 22, 2021, in New York City.
Voters sign in at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Voters sign in at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Residents arrive to vote during the New York City mayoral primary election at the Brooklyn Museum polling station on June 22, 2021 in New York City.
Residents arrive to vote during the New York City mayoral primary election at the Brooklyn Museum polling station on June 22, 2021 in New York City.
Signs alert people to a voting site in Manhattan as voters head to the polls for the Democratic primary for mayor and other elected positions on June 22, 2021, in New York City. Ranked-choice voting is being used for the first time, a system that lets voters prioritize more than one candidate on their ballot. The winner of the Democratic primary will face off against the Republican candidate in the fall.
Residents vote during the New York City mayoral primary election at the Brooklyn Museum polling station on June 22, 2021, in New York City.
Residents vote during the New York City mayoral primary election at the Brooklyn Museum polling station on June 22, 2021, in New York City.
Eric Adams votes at P.S. 81 on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.
Eric Adams votes at P.S. 81 on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.
Eric Adams votes at P.S. 81 on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.
Eric Adams votes at P.S. 81 on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.
Eric Adams gets emotional when talking about the death of his mother while talking to the media after voting at P.S. 81 on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.
Eric Adams gets emotional when talking about the death of his mother while talking to the media after voting at P.S. 81 on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.
Voters receive their ballots at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Voters receive their ballots at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
People prepare to vote during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
People prepare to vote during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
A poll worker assembles a ballot at Frank McCourt High School in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
A poll worker assembles a ballot at Frank McCourt High School in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
A voter files her voting ballot during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
A voter files her voting ballot during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Voters place their marked ballots in scanners at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The final votes are set to be cast Tuesday in New York's party primaries, where mayors, prosecutors, judges and city and county legislators will be on the ballot, along with other municipal offices.
Voters place their marked ballots in scanners at Frank McCourt High School, in New York on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. The final votes are set to be cast Tuesday in New York's party primaries, where mayors, prosecutors, judges and city and county legislators will be on the ballot, along with other municipal offices.
Eric Adams takes selfies with supporters after voting at P.S. 81 on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.
Eric Adams takes selfies with supporters after voting at P.S. 81 on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.
Corey Johnson, Candidate for Comptroller, arrives to vote on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 in Manhattan.
Corey Johnson, Candidate for Comptroller, arrives to vote on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 in Manhattan.
Corey Johnson, Candidate for Comptroller, arrives to vote on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 in Manhattan.
Corey Johnson, Candidate for Comptroller, arrives to vote on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 in Manhattan.
People vote during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
People vote during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Manhattan District Attorney Candidate Tali Farhadian Weinstein is pictured greeting potential voters while campaigning on the corner of 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
Manhattan District Attorney Candidate Tali Farhadian Weinstein is pictured greeting potential voters while campaigning on the corner of 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue on Tuesday, June 22, 2021.
People vote during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
People vote during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
A poll worker hangs up a voting sign during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. This is the first year in the city for ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to rank their top five candidates.
A poll worker hangs up a voting sign during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. This is the first year in the city for ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to rank their top five candidates.
A poll worker hangs up a voting sign during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.
A poll worker hangs up a voting sign during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 81 on June 22, 2021, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Liz Crotty, Lucy Lang and Diana Florence, all former prosecutor’s in the Manhattan DA’s office, were also in the running.

The crowded campaign exploded with bitter back-and-forths in recent weeks as Weinstein poured more than $8 million of her own money into her campaign and candidates battled over prosecutorial reforms.

Should Bragg take the primary he will likely sail to victory in November’s general election and inherit a wide-ranging high-profile ongoing investigation into former President Donald Trump’s finances.

Advertisement