Brooklyn was in the forefront in the 2013 general election with two of the city’s top three positions filled by borough residents.
Democrat Bill de Blasio – who has served as the city’s public advocate for the past four years and who previously represented a swathe of brownstone Brooklyn in the City Council — scored a huge victory in the mayoral race, and Democratic Councilmember Letitia James – who currently represents Fort Greene and Clinton Hill — had a landslide win in her quest to become public advocate, becoming the first African-American woman to win that post.
Also making history were Democrats Eric Adams — who easily won the post of Brooklyn borough president — and Kenneth Thompson, who triumphed in the district attorney race over incumbent Charles Hynes. Both men were the first African-Americans to win those positions.
“Yesterday’s vote brings us to the end of one long, successful journey so that we may begin another. I cannot thank enough the dedicated Brooklynites who shared my vision for our beloved borough, and shared their time, energy and passion to make this day possible,” said an elated Adams.
As for the City Council, Brooklyn’s 16 districts were all won by Democrats. In fact, only three of the 16 races were remotely close (Districts 43, 47, and 48) as unofficial numbers indicate that Democrats received 80 percent or more of the votes in the other 13 Council districts.
There were also several initiatives on the ballot. Five of the six proposals were approved, including allowing casino gambling in New York State, with voters supporting the creation of seven Las Vegas-style casinos outside New York City.
“The passage of Proposal One is a big win for local governments, school districts and taxpayers across New York State. This vote will keep hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year in neighboring states right here in New York, while increasing revenue for local schools, lowering property tax taxes, and bringing proper regulation to the industry,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The only proposal that wasn’t approved was one to raise the retirement age of judges to 80.
Here’s an election recap:
VOTES PERCENTAGE
MAYOR
Bill de Blasio (D) 752,604 73.34%
Joe Lhota (R) 249,121 24.28%
Adolfo Carrion (I) 8,202 0.8%
PUBLIC ADVOCATE
Letitia James (D) 770,764 83.55%
Robert Maresca (C) 112,967 12.25%
James Lane (G) 16,088 1.74%
COMPTROLLER
Scott Stringer (D) 782,703 80.53%
John Burnett (R) 161,608 16.63%
Julia Willebrand (G) 19,544 2.01%
BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT
Eric Adams (D) 246,547 90.82%
Elias Weir (R) 24,923 9.18%
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Kenneth Thompson (D) 222,348 74.79%
Charles Hynes (R) 74,943 25.21%
VOTES PERCENTAGE
DISTRICT 33
Stephen Levin (D) 18,639 92.2%
John Jasilli (C) 1,580 7.8%
DISTRICT 34
Antonio Reynoso (D) 13,123 96.0%
Gladys Santiago 544 4.0%
DISTRICT 35
Laurie Cumbo (D) Uncontested
DISTRICT 36
Robert Cornegy (D) 16,422 87.5%
Kirsten Foy (WF) 1,888 10.1%
DISTRICT 37
Rafael Espinal (D) 8,400 86.1%
Kimberly Council (WF) 1,144 11.7%
DISTRICT 38
Carlos Menchaca (D) 9,008 90.7%
Henry Lallave (C) 924 9.3%
DISTRICT 39
Brad Lander (D) 25,906 91.9%
James Murray (C) 2,271 8.1%
DISTRICT 40
Mathieu Eugene (D) 17,113 90.2%
Sylvia Kinard 1,157 6.1%
DISTRICT 41
Darlene Mealy (D) 16,771 97.3%
Bilal Malik (I) 459 2.7%
DISTRICT 42
Inez Barron (D) 17,665 96.2%
Ernest Johnson (C) 703 3.8%
DISTRICT 43
Vincent Gentile (D) 12,638 62.7%
John Quaglione (R) 7,162 35.6%
DISTRICT 44
David Greenfield (D) 13,638 82.0%
Joseph Hayon (R) 2,990 18.0%
DISTRICT 45
Jumaane Williams (D) 19,889 96.8%
Erlene King 665 3.2%
DISTRICT 46
Alan Maisel (D) 19,746 80.3%
Anthony Testaverde (R) 4,834 19.7%
DISTRICT 47
Mark Treyger (D) 8,267 71.2%
Andrew Sullivan (R) 3,112 26.8%
DISTRICT 48
Chaim Deutsch (D) 9,361 55.1%
David Storobin (R) 6,645 39.1%
Proposal 1: Allow Casino Gambling Statewide
Yes 1,467,624 57.1%
No 1,104,644 42.9%
Proposal 2: Retroactive Extra Credit for Disabled Veterans
Yes 2,021,321 83.6%
No 395,426 16.4%
Proposal 3: Exceed Debt Limits for Sewage Facilities
Yes 1,393,144 62.2%
No 845,086 37.8%
Proposal 4: Adirondack Land Dispute Resolution
Yes 1,615,028 72.4%
No 614,868 27.6%
Proposal 5: Adirondack Mining
Yes 1,185,222 53.1%
No 1,045,438 46.9%
Proposal 6: Raise Judiciary Retirement Age
No 1,432,519 60.8%
Yes 924,393 39.2%