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New York City goes to polls in first mayoral vote De Blasio leads NY Democratic primary, Lhota gets GOP nod
(about 17 hours later)
Voters in New York City have gone to the polls as the city begins the process of replacing long-time mayor Mike Bloomberg. New York City's public advocate Bill de Blasio has won a Democratic mayoral primary, unofficial results show.
Recent polling suggests Bill de Blasio, the city's public advocate, is leading a nine-way Democratic race. With some 97% of precincts reporting, Mr de Blasio secured some 40% of the vote, but may still face a run-off with former city controller Bill Thompson.
The race has focused on Mr Bloomberg's legacy, with Democrats promising a new direction while Republicans largely want to uphold his policies. In the Republican race, Joe Lhota, the former head of NYC's transit service, won with about 52%.
The winner of each party's primary will vie in November's mayoral election. The winner of each party's primary will vie in November's mayoral election to replace incumbent Michael Bloomberg.
Mr Bloomberg has not explicitly endorsed a candidate in either primary. The long-time mayor, who took on the role as a Republican in 2001 but won as an independent four years ago, has not explicitly endorsed a contender in either primary.
Minority vote key? 'Far from over'
But he attacked Mr de Blasio in an exit interview with New York magazine last week. The unofficial results of Tuesday's election showed that Mr de Blasio, seen as one of the more liberal candidates, was hovering near the 40% threshold needed to avoid the run-off on 1 October.
Mr Bloomberg argued the candidate's focus on his biracial family in the campaign was meant to fuel "class warfare" and was potentially "racist". Mr de Blasio "represents the most change", one voter in Harlem was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
The former city councillor, who is white, and his wife, who is black, have hit back against Mr Bloomberg for the comments. Mr Thompson, the sole African-American candidate, was set to get about 26% in the nine-way Democratic race.
Analysts suggest minority voters will make up the majority of Tuesday's Democratic vote. But he refused to concede, apparently waiting for the result of some 30,000 absentee ballots which would not be known until early next week.
Polls opened at 06:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday and close at 21:00. "This is far from over," he said.
There will be run-off elections if no candidate reaches 40% of their primary's vote. Christine Quinn, the city council speaker who is vying to be the first female and openly gay mayor of the city, was in third place with about 15% of the vote.
Mr de Blasio's polling numbers indicate he could avoid such an outcome. Anthony Weiner, a former congressman who resigned after sending lewd pictures and messages to women he met online, had about 5%. His poll ratings plunged after he admitted during the campaign to similar conduct.
A Quinnipiac survey suggested he would gain 39% of the Democratic vote. Another put Mr de Blasio at 36% of the vote. The Republican primary, a three-way contest, attracted less interest, as registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the city by six-to-one.
His closest rivals are Christine Quinn, the city council speaker who is vying to be the first female and openly gay mayor of the city, and Bill Thompson, the city's former comptroller and sole African-American in the primary. Mr Lhota appeared to have secured 52%, defeating grocery store mogul John Catsimatidis, who had 41%.
Mr Thompson came close to defeating Mr Bloomberg in the general election of 2009. "Now is the time for our party to come together and unite for the common good. This is the first step towards continuing a strong future for our city," Mr Lhota said.
Lupe Moreno, 65, a real estate broker, who voted in Harlem for Ms Quinn, told the Associated Press: "I think she's got the experience from working with Bloomberg." The Democratic primary focused on Mr Bloomberg's legacy, with Democrats promising a new direction while Republicans largely want to uphold his policies.
Another voter in the same neighbourhood said Mr de Blasio "represents the most change" for the city. New York City has not elected a Democratic mayor in five terms.
Anthony Weiner, a former Congressman who resigned after sending lewd pictures and messages to women he met online, has plunged in the mayoral polls since admitting during the campaign to similar conduct.
Mr de Blasio has benefited from Mr Weiner's fall in the polls, analysts say, but has also gained support for criticising the controversial police practice known as stop-and-frisk in New York.
A judge recently ruled that the policy, as applied by the New York Police Department, was discriminatory and unconstitutional.
The Republican primary, a three-way race, has attracted less interest, as registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the city by six-to-one.
The leading contender is Joe Lhota, the former head of the city's transit service. He will face a grocery store mogul, John Catsimatidis, and non-profit organisation founder George McDonald.
But the city has not elected a Democratic mayor in five terms, including Mr Bloomberg's three terms, one in which he ran as an independent.
The city's next mayor will inherit several budget problems, including a deficit of about $2bn (£1.2bn) and increased costs expected as teachers, firefighters, police and many other city employees are working under expired contracts.The city's next mayor will inherit several budget problems, including a deficit of about $2bn (£1.2bn) and increased costs expected as teachers, firefighters, police and many other city employees are working under expired contracts.