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Bill Thompson concedes New York Democratic primary to Bill de Blasio Bill Thompson concedes New York Democratic primary to Bill de Blasio
(1 day later)
New York City mayoral candidate Bill Thompson conceded the Democratic primary race to frontrunner Bill de Blasio on Monday, averting a potential runoff and clearing the way for de Blasio to campaign for the general election.New York City mayoral candidate Bill Thompson conceded the Democratic primary race to frontrunner Bill de Blasio on Monday, averting a potential runoff and clearing the way for de Blasio to campaign for the general election.
Thompson endorsed de Blasio at City Hall, saying he was proud to support him as the party's nominee.Thompson endorsed de Blasio at City Hall, saying he was proud to support him as the party's nominee.
A potential runoff had loomed in the Democrats' drama to choose a successor to three-term Mayor Michael Bloomberg – a fight that would keep Democrats tilting at each other while Republicans and independents looked ahead to the general election. With Thompson, the Democrats' 2009 mayoral nominee, out of the race, de Blasio will face Republican nominee Joe Lhota on 5 November.A potential runoff had loomed in the Democrats' drama to choose a successor to three-term Mayor Michael Bloomberg – a fight that would keep Democrats tilting at each other while Republicans and independents looked ahead to the general election. With Thompson, the Democrats' 2009 mayoral nominee, out of the race, de Blasio will face Republican nominee Joe Lhota on 5 November.
Governor Andrew Cuomo played a role in brokering the deal, according to two people familiar with Thompson's decision, speaking on condition of anonymity..Governor Andrew Cuomo played a role in brokering the deal, according to two people familiar with Thompson's decision, speaking on condition of anonymity..
"New York will be an even greater city under the leadership of Mayor Bill de Blasio," Cuomo said at the City Hall event."New York will be an even greater city under the leadership of Mayor Bill de Blasio," Cuomo said at the City Hall event.
In unofficial returns with 99% of precincts reporting, de Blasio had had 40.3% of the vote – slightly more than the 40% threshold needed to win outright. Thompson was second with 26.2%.In unofficial returns with 99% of precincts reporting, de Blasio had had 40.3% of the vote – slightly more than the 40% threshold needed to win outright. Thompson was second with 26.2%.
A runoff had long been expected in the crowded Democratic race. But last week's unofficial returns put de Blasio above the 40% mark, putting pressure on Thompson to concede and spare the party further division.A runoff had long been expected in the crowded Democratic race. But last week's unofficial returns put de Blasio above the 40% mark, putting pressure on Thompson to concede and spare the party further division.
He had said as recently as Sunday he would wait until the official tally was finished.He had said as recently as Sunday he would wait until the official tally was finished.
"I think that's important. We want to see every vote counted," he said then."I think that's important. We want to see every vote counted," he said then.
Thompson called the Reverend Al Sharpton, an important city power broker, to inform him early Monday of his decision, according to a person close to Sharpton who also spoke on condition of anonymity.Thompson called the Reverend Al Sharpton, an important city power broker, to inform him early Monday of his decision, according to a person close to Sharpton who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Sharpton endorsed his longtime friend Thompson during his 2009 mayoral bid but stayed on the sidelines this race, depriving Thompson of a loud advocate in his bid to win the majority of African-American voters. De Blasio and Thompson ran even among African-American voters, according to exit polls.Sharpton endorsed his longtime friend Thompson during his 2009 mayoral bid but stayed on the sidelines this race, depriving Thompson of a loud advocate in his bid to win the majority of African-American voters. De Blasio and Thompson ran even among African-American voters, according to exit polls.
Sharpton was not expected to attend the morning rally but will likely endorse de Blasio in the coming days, according to the person.Sharpton was not expected to attend the morning rally but will likely endorse de Blasio in the coming days, according to the person.
Currently the city's elected public advocate, de Blasio has been riding a wave of momentum that built during the last month of his campaign, which he billed as "a progressive alternative to the Bloomberg era".Currently the city's elected public advocate, de Blasio has been riding a wave of momentum that built during the last month of his campaign, which he billed as "a progressive alternative to the Bloomberg era".
After lagging in the polls, de Blasio got voters' attention by protesting a hospital closing – and getting arrested – and by airing ads in which his teenage son pitched his liberal platform and showed New Yorkers de Blasio's interracial family.After lagging in the polls, de Blasio got voters' attention by protesting a hospital closing – and getting arrested – and by airing ads in which his teenage son pitched his liberal platform and showed New Yorkers de Blasio's interracial family.
Thompson, a former city comptroller and the only African American in the race, has run a more centrist campaign, offering himself as a seasoned, thoughtful manager.Thompson, a former city comptroller and the only African American in the race, has run a more centrist campaign, offering himself as a seasoned, thoughtful manager.
Thompson hadn't led in polls of the crowded Democratic field this year, but supporters noted that he had been underestimated in the past: Thompson came much closer than polls predicted to unseating Bloomberg in 2009, despite being vastly outspent.Thompson hadn't led in polls of the crowded Democratic field this year, but supporters noted that he had been underestimated in the past: Thompson came much closer than polls predicted to unseating Bloomberg in 2009, despite being vastly outspent.
De Blasio has said Thompson had every right to want the official count.De Blasio has said Thompson had every right to want the official count.
On Friday, elections officials began checking vote totals from more than 645,000 ballots cast via lever machines, which were hauled out of storage after the elections board worried it wouldn't be able to reprogram the city's new, optical-scanner devices in time. That count was finished Sunday night and is to be announced Monday afternoon.On Friday, elections officials began checking vote totals from more than 645,000 ballots cast via lever machines, which were hauled out of storage after the elections board worried it wouldn't be able to reprogram the city's new, optical-scanner devices in time. That count was finished Sunday night and is to be announced Monday afternoon.
The elections board was beginning to count some 78,000 absentee and other paper ballots Monday.The elections board was beginning to count some 78,000 absentee and other paper ballots Monday.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was the frontrunner for months and was jousting with Thompson for second place in polls as recent as early September. Former representative Anthony Weiner leaped to the front of the pack for a time after joining the race in May, before the public learned that his explicit exchanges with women online continued even after his 2011 resignation from Congress.City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was the frontrunner for months and was jousting with Thompson for second place in polls as recent as early September. Former representative Anthony Weiner leaped to the front of the pack for a time after joining the race in May, before the public learned that his explicit exchanges with women online continued even after his 2011 resignation from Congress.
Regardless of the mayor's race, Democrats still will be asked to go to the polls again on 1 October. There's a runoff between City Councilwoman Letitia James and state Senator Daniel Squadron for the party's nomination to succeed de Blasio as public advocate.Regardless of the mayor's race, Democrats still will be asked to go to the polls again on 1 October. There's a runoff between City Councilwoman Letitia James and state Senator Daniel Squadron for the party's nomination to succeed de Blasio as public advocate.
If de Blasio's final vote count ends up below 40%, the mayoral primary will also be on the ballot, because Thompson missed the Friday deadline to have it removed.If de Blasio's final vote count ends up below 40%, the mayoral primary will also be on the ballot, because Thompson missed the Friday deadline to have it removed.
Lhota ramped up his general election campaign over the weekend and is expected to address de Blasio's nomination soon. Adolfo Carrion Jr, a former Bronx borough president running as an independent, will also be on the November ballot.Lhota ramped up his general election campaign over the weekend and is expected to address de Blasio's nomination soon. Adolfo Carrion Jr, a former Bronx borough president running as an independent, will also be on the November ballot.
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