>>> TONIGHT, NEW YORK PRIMARIES TAKE TWO.

WE'RE BREAKING DOWN THE BIGGEST WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM THIS BIZARRE ELECTION SEASON AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY AND THE STATE.

"METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪♪ ♪♪ >>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

>>"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION AND BY -- ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL PRIMARY EDITION OF THE FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

I'M RAFAEL PI ROMAN.

IT WAS A BIG NIGHT FOR NEW YORK IN THIS BIZARRE PRIMARY SEASON THAT HAD VOTERS BACK AT THE POLLS THIS TIME TO DECIDE THEIR NOMINEES FOR CONGRESS AND STATE SENATE.

IN NEW YORK CITY'S NEWLY REDRAWN 12th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, NADLER ROUTED CAROLYN MALONEY.

THE TENTH DISTRICT WAS CLOSER WITH THE AP CALLING RATE FOR FORMER TRUMP PROSECUTOR DAN GOLDMAN WHO HELD OFF A GROUP OF PROGRESSIVE CHALLENGERS.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT BUT HIS ENDORSEMENTS IN SEVERAL STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES REPORTEDLY DID NOT GO WELL.

WHAT DO THESE RESULTS AND THOSE OUTSIDE THE CITY TELL US ABOUT NEW YORK'S FUTURE?

WITH TURNOUT EXTREMELY LOW YET AGAIN, SHOULD THE STATE RETHINK HOW IT CONDUCTS ITS ELECTIONS?

JOINING US TO HELP ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS ARE L. JOY WILLIAMS, POLITICAL STRATEGIST WHO IS THE HOST OF THE SUNDAY CIVICS PODCAST ON CIVICS EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT, SAL ALBANESE, A FORMER NEW YORK CITY COUNCILMAN, MAYORAL CANDIDATE AND CHAIR OF THE ORGANIZATION NEW YORKERS FOR COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS, AND ELLIS HENICAN, A COLUMNIST, POLITICAL ANALYST AND "NEW YORK TIMES" BEST-SELLING AUTHOR.

WELCOME.

PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ALL WITH US.

>> HEY.

>> WE GOT A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER SO LET ME START RIGHT AWAY WITH YOU, SAL.

YOU KNOW, LET'S START WITH THE 12th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, PROBABLY THE MOST WATCHED CONTEST HERE BETWEEN THE TWO TITANS, JERRY NADLER AND CAROLYN MALONEY.

AS IT TURNS OUT, JERRY NADLER ROUTED MALONEY.

WHY THAT LUMP-SIDED VICTORY, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ENDORSEMENT WAS BIG FACTOR IN THAT DISTRICT.

I THINK THAT TIMES HAS A LOT OF INFLUENCE THERE, AND I THINK NADLER HAD A BETTER FIELD OPERATION.

THE WEST SIDE, HIS WEST SIDE SUPPORTERS AND THE CLUBS ARE VERY ACTIVE THERE, MORE ACTIVE THAN I BELIEVE THE EAST SIDE POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

ALSO I THINK CAROLYN WAS HURT BY HER VOTES THAT NADLER POINTED OUT NUMEROUS TIMES ON THE IRAQ WAR.

NADLER VOTED AGAINST IT.

SHE WAS FOR IT.

AND THE VACCINE ISSUE ALSO HURT HER.

SO I THINK THAT THOSE ARE THE REASONS WHY NADLER WON.

ALSO HE WAS CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, THAT HUGE AMOUNT OF COMPLICITY DURING THE TRUMP IMPEACHMENT.

ALL OF THOSE FACTORS PLAYED A BIG ROLE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT MALONEY OUT SPENT HIM, BUT IT WASN'T SURPRISING.

ONCE "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WEIGHED IN, I FELT -- >> NO.

YOU REFERENCED THE VACCINE ISSUE.

MALONEY, CONGRESSWOMAN MALONEY HAS BEEN SUSPICIOUS OF VACCINES IN GENERAL FOR SOME TIME AN THAT WAS THE PROBLEM.

L. JOY, MALONEY REFERENCED MISOGYNY AND SEXISM IN HER CONCESSION SPEECH, AND SAID THAT THOSE HAD OCCURRED DURING THIS CAMPAIGN AGAINST HER.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S ACCURATE?

IF SO, DO YOU THINK THAT PLAYED A PART IN HER DEFEAT?

>> WELL, I THINK TO SAL'S POINT, WHICH I WOULD AGREE, AND THIS I WOULD ACTUALLY AGREE FOR A NUMBER OF THE CAMPAIGNS THAT WERE RUN YESTERDAY, IS THAT TURNOUT PLAYED A HUGE ROLE AND CAMPAIGN'S ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN OPERATION TO BE ABLE TO PULL OUT VOTERS IN AN ELECTION THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT USED TO IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE SUMMER, THAT IS WHAT PRIMARILY PLAYED MAJORITY OF THE INFLUENCE IN WHO WON AND LOST YESTERDAY.

BUT I WOULD SAY ALSO IN TERMS OF PITTING TWO TITANS, AS YOU MENTIONED, AGAINST EACH OTHER, I THINK MALONEY MADE A VERY CALCULATED DECISION, HER AND HER TEAM, THAT THESE FRIENDS, RIGHT, THAT HAD BEEN FRIENDS FOR SOME TIME, AND COLLEAGUES, IN TRYING TO BE VERY DISTINCT IN THE REASON WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT HER AND HER CANDY SASY OVER NADLER AND ONE OF THOSE ASPECTS, OBVIOUSLY, WAS PLAYING INTO WOMEN IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL, WHICH IS A HUGE FACTOR, A HUGE VOTING FACTOR, IN THAT DISTRICT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.

THAT DIDN'T WORK WELL.

IT DIDN'T WORK WELL IN TERMS OF A STRATEGY, AND IT ALSO DIDN'T WORK WELL AGAINST AN ORGANIZED FIELD OPERATION, AND WE SEE THAT EVEN IN GOING, YOU KNOW, AS WE'LL GO TO THE 10th, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, MONEY DOESN'T HELP IF YOU DON'T HAVE ALSO THE STRONG OPERATION TO BACK THAT UP.

>> WELL, MAYBE MONEY DID HELP.

THAT'S MY QUESTION TO YOU, ELLIS.

THE 10th WAS MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE THAN GOLDMAN, THE AP SAYS HE WON THAT RACE, EVEN THOUGH HE -- HIS FIRST TIME HE'S EVER RUN FOR CONGRESS, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ORGANIZATIONAL TIES TO THE COMMUNITY THAT MAKE UP THAT DISTRICT.

LIKE SO MANY OF US CHALLENGERS DID.

YET, HE WON ANYWAY.

SO WAS IT MONEY?

HE'S VERY WEALTHY.

WAS IT HIS MONEY?

WAS IT THE FACT THAT PROGRESSIVES DIVIDED THE VOTES AMONG THEMSELVES OR SOMETHING ALTOGETHER?

>> BLAME LONG DIVISION.

ONE OF HIM AND THE PROGRESSIVES DIVIDING THAT PART OF THE VOTE.

YOU'RE BETTER OFF INSTEAD OF THE ONE DIVIDING THE CONSTITUENCY INTO MANY PIECES.

TWO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

ON THE NADLER-MALONEY RACE, THE WAY I WOULD PUT IT IS THAT ZABAR'S BEAT ELI'S MARKET.

ANYONE WHO LIVES ON THE UPPER WEST OR EAST SIDE WILL UNDERSTAND THE REFERENCE.

TWO TITANS OF PASTRAMI, CALL THEM.

BUT IN THAT CASE, LISTEN, THOSE WERE TWO DINOSAURS.

NEITHER WAS GOING TO BE AROUND FOR MUCH LONGER.

THEY'RE BOTH KIND OF UNLIKABLE PERSONALLY, IF I'M ALLOWED TO SAY.

THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW -- >> YOU SAID IT ANYWAY.

>> THEY'RE OBNOXIOUS OLD TIME POLITICIANS WHOSE DAY IS PRETTY MUCH DONE, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE MONEY PART.

MONEY BAILED THEM OUT AGAINST THEIR THIRD COMPETITOR AND IN THE END, PEOPLE SAID THAT HEY, NADLER IS PROBABLY A MORE EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATIVE THAN MALONEY.

NOW DOWNTOWN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN LOWER MANHATTAN AND BROOKLYN, YOU'RE RIGHT, GOLDMAN WAS THE LEAST PROGRESSIVE OF THE MAJOR CANDIDATES.

HE HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY.

HE RAN A SMART CAMPAIGN, AND HE LET HIS OPPONENTS DIVIDE THE LEFT VOTE.

SO HE BARELY SCOOTED IN, 26% OF THE VOTE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD CALL THAT MANDATE, BUT IT WAS ENOUGH TO BEAT EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> YES.

>> BUT I MEAN, IF I MAY IN TERMS OF -- >> PLEASE.

>> FOR HIM TO SPEND AS MUCH MONEY AS HE DID IN TERMS OF INTRODUCING HIMSELF AND AS YOU MENTIONED, IT BEING THAT CLOSE, YOU KNOW, HE HAD TO SPEND THAT MONEY IN ORDER TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT KNOW HIM, WHO DID NOT KNOW HIM AS HE DOESN'T HAVE A TRACK RECORD THERE, BUT THE PERCENTAGE IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR HIM, RIGHT, AGAINST HIM, TELLS THE NUMBER THAT IF THINGS HAD SHOVELED A DIFFERENT WAY, IF MONDAIRE HAD BEEN IN THE OTHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT -- >> THE 17th.

>> WOULD THAT HAVE SHIFTEDED A CHANGED.

>> MONDAIRE JONES WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE RUNNING IN THE 10th WHO LOST.

HE'S A CONGRESS PERSON NOW REPRESENTING THE 17th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

HE WAS ESSENTIALLY PUSHED OUT OF THERE BY SEAN PATRICK MALONEY, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION COMMITTEE, BUT PUSHED HIM OUT BECAUSE HE, MALONEY, WHO IS A CONGRESSMAN OF THE 18th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, FELT AFTER REDISTRICTING, 17th WAS A SAFER SEAT, HE SHOVED HIMSELF INTO THAT PUSHING MONDAIRE JONES OUT.

THAT LEFT BAD FEELINGS AMONG DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVES.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A COMPETITIVE RACE IN NOVEMBER.

IS THAT BAD BLOOD GOING TO HURT HIM IN NOVEMBER?

>> IT MAY.

THAT'S A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

I THINK THAT WHAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THAT RACE, IS THAT THE SCHUMER, PELOSI AND THE PBA WERE UNITED AGAINST BIAGGI BECAUSE OF HER ACTIVISM ON DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A MODERATE DISTRICT, HAD SHE WON THAT PRIMARY, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED GOODS.

MALONEY HAS A DECENT SHOT OF RETAINING THAT SEAT.

JONES GOT PUSHED OUT AND I THINK THAT HURT HIM IN THE ELECTION IN THE 10th.

HE'S A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE.

SOLID, SMART, BUT BEING A CARPETBAGGER, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, COMING INTO THE DISTRICT OUT OF NOWHERE, OUT OF UPSTATE NEW YORK, HURT HIS CHANCES.

HE HAD PLENTY OF RESOURCES AS WELL.

GOLDMAN HAS A GREAT TRACK RECORD AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH HE'S A MULTIBILLIONAIRE, AND THAT PLAYED WELL.

"THE NEW YORK TIMES," AGAIN, PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THAT RACE.

>> OF COURSE, HIS PRESENCE IN THE FIRST IMPEACHMENT TRIAL DIDN'T HURT.

L. JOY, WE HAVE TO MOVE TO THE 19th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHICH WAS REALLY INTERESTING.

THAT HAD A SPECIAL ELECTION PITTING THE DEMOCRAT PAT RYAN AGAINST MARC MOLINARO.

IT WAS A TOSS UP.

RYAN WON.

RYAN CAMPAIGNED MOSTLY ON ABORTION, ROE V. WADE.

MOLINARO TRIED TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT ISSUE AND FOCUS ON THE ECONOMICS, ON THE ECONOMY, WHICH RINSE ARE DOING FOR THE MIDTERMS.

BUT RYAN WON, NEVERTHELESS.

IS THIS A ROAD MAP FOR OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES TO FOLLOW AS THEY APPROACH THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS?

>> WELL, I THINK -- NATIONALLY DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO USE THIS AS A BELL WETTER IN TERMS OF MESSAGING DISCIPLINE, AS WE GO FORWARD INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION, AND, YOU KNOW, THE SAME THING I SAY TO ANYONE IS IT MATTERS THE DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, AND SO WHILE THERE MAY BE A NATIONAL MESSAGE AND A NATIONAL STRATEGY IN TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD OVERALL FOR DEMOCRATS, IT ALSO -- WE ALSO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHICH DISTRICT THIS WOULD WORK IN.

RIGHT.

SO IN A DISTRICT WHERE YOU HAVE MOLINARO AND SURROUNDING AND IN NEW YORK STATE THE GOP CANDIDATES WHO ARE TRYING TO JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON OF THE DIFFERENT EXTREMES WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND YOU HAVE A BASE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND PEOPLE WHO AGREE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, THAT MESSAGING CAN WORK COMPARED WITH SOME STREET OPERATION AND FIELD OPERATION.

NOW IF YOU GET TO OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE MIDWEST AND SOUTH, WHERE IT'S A LITTLE -- WHERE YOU HAVE BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO MAY BE -- THIS MAY NOT BE THE ISSUE THAT WOULD BE NUMBER ONE FOR THEM, OR YOU HAVE AN EQUAL PAIRING IN TERMS OF WOMEN VERSUS MEN IN THOSE DISTRICTS, I THINK, AGAIN, WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC.

THAT'S WHEN DEMOCRATS WIN.

>> SO IT'S A ROAD MAP FOR SOME, BUT NOT FOR ALL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES?

>> EXACTLY.

>> ELLIS, UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER DISTRICT.

ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE 19th?

>> JUST THAT IT'S NORMALLY A MISTAKE TO EXTRAPOLATE FROM NEW YORK TO AMERICA BECAUSE WE'RE SO DIFFERENT.

BUT THIS WAS SUCH A SWING DISTRICT THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWED PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS FOR THE LAST THREE CYCLES.

DEMS ARE GIVING A LOT OF HIGH FIVES ON THAT VICTORY.

>> LISTEN, THE 23rd -- SAL, GO AHEAD.

>> JUST A QUICK POINT ON THAT RACE.

I THINK IT HAS AN IMPACT HERE IN MY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, THE 11th, MAX VERSUS NALIA.

HE'S THE UNDERDOG, BUT WITH THE DOBBS DECISION, THAT COULD CHANGE THE DYNAMIC AND MAKE THE RACE VERY CLOSE HERE IN THE 11th.

>> THE DOBBS WAS GUN CONTROL?

>> NO.

THE ABORTION.

>> THE ABORTION.

I'M SORRY.

OF COURSE.

>>> SO LET'S TURN TO THE 23rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, THE REPUBLICAN UP IN THE BUFFALO AREA, WHERE CARL PAL DINO, THE CONTROVERSIAL CANDIDATE AND THE 2010 GUBERNATORIAL RACE, WAS -- RAN AGAINST NICK LANGWORTHY WHO ULTIMATELY WON, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE WERE PREDICTING THAT PALADINO WAS GOING TO WIN UNTIL THE END.

LANGWORTHY IS THE CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN NEW YORK STATE AND SAID THAT HE WAS GOING TO -- THAT HE HAD GOTTEN INTO THE RACE BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID OF WHAT PALADINO WOULD DO FOR THE REST OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, PARTICULARLY THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, ZELDIN.

DID THE GOP DODGE A BULLET WITH PALADINO'S LOSS THERE?

>> YES.

>> HE SEEMED TO HAVE PRAISED HITLER IN ONE OF HIS COMMENTS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK AGAIN.

THIS WAS OVERALL A PRETTY GOOD NIGHT FOR ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHMENTS.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE.

THERE'S NOT A WIT WORTH OF IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

BIG TRUMPERS, BOTH PRETTY CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES BUT PALADINO WAS A LOOSE CANNON AND IN THE END, I THINK SOME OF THOSE RACES AND MISOGYNIST COMMENTS MIGHT HAVE COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM.

A LOT OF GOP ORGANIZATION FOLKS FEEL LIKE THEY DONALD A BULLET ON THAT ONE.

>> BEFORE WE TURN TO THE ISSUE OF ELECTION REFORM.

MAYOR ADAMS ENDORSED OR SUPPORTED ABOUT A DOZEN CANDIDATES, MOST OF THEM, YOU KNOW, SOME CHALLENGERS, SOME WERE NOT CHALLENGERS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRESSIVES, THE PROGRESSIVES KIND OF WON BY AND LARGE, THE ONES THAT ALREADY WERE IN OFFICE.

WHAT DOES THIS DO FOR -- AND THE REASON HE WAS SUPPORTING THEM, THEY'RE MORE MODERATE, HE WANTS MORE MODERATES IN ALBANY TO HELP HIM CHANGE THE BAIL REFORM LAW, SO THE DEFEAT OF HIS CANDIDATES BY AND LARGE, DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE REFORM OF THE BAIL REFORM FOR ONE, AND DOES THAT HURT MAYOR ADAMS' CLOUT IN ALBANY AS WE MOVE FORWARD?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

I MEAN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF KEVIN PARKER, MOST OF THE PEOPLE HE ENDORSED LOST.

THAT CAN'T BE VERY HELPFUL TO HIM.

SOME OF THE CANDIDATES GOT BLOWN OUT.

IN BROOKLYN, ONE OF HIS CANDIDATES GARNERED 15% OF THE VOTE AND LIZ CROWLEY IN QUEENS GOT POUNDED BY -- AS A DSA MEMBER.

SO NONE OF THAT STUFF IS GOING TO HELP.

IF I WERE THE MAYOR -- I'M NOT THE MAYOR -- I WOULD BE MORE JUDICIOUS ABOUT MY ENDORSEMENTS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALBANY.

HE HAS TO GO UP THERE FOR BUDGET REASONS, FOR BAIL REFORM AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

IT WASN'T A GOOD NIGHT FOR HIM.

>> OKAY.

L. JOY, DO YOU THINK THAT HE'S HURT NOW, HURT SERIOUSLY IN ALBANY?

>> I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT I AGREE WITH SAL IN TERMS OF HIM BEING MORE RESERVED IN TERMS OF WHO HE IS SUPPORTING BECAUSE THOSE -- THE SUPPORT THAT HE PROVIDED ALSO, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CAMPAIGN, DID IT COME WITH ANYTHING.

DID THAT ENDORSEMENT COME WITH ANY SUPPORT.

IT WAS HIM SORT OF GIVING THE BOOST, BUT DID IT COME WITH ANY SUPPORT ON THE GROUND, COME WITH ANY MONEY, DID IT COME WITH ANYTHING TO HELP SOME OF THESE CAMPAIGNS WHO NEEDED THE HELP IF THEY WERE GOING TO WIN, AND IT DIDN'T.

SO I WOULD ADVISE HIM TO STAY OUT OF IT BECAUSE, AS SAL MENTIONED, YOU STILL HAVE TO GO UP TO ALBANY AND GET WHAT YOU WANT FOR THE CITY.

>> YEAH.

SPECIFICALLY ON BAIL REFORM REFORMS, NOW HE CAN CERTAINLY NOT MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT HE HAS A MANDATE FROM THE NEW YORK CITY CITIZENS TO ASK FOR THAT BAIL REFORM REFORM.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT ERIC ADAMS, THE MAYOR ERIC ADAMS, NEEDS ANYTHING TO SAY.

THE REASON WHY HE HAS A MANDATE, I THINK HE WILL POINT BACK TO HIS ELECTION AND THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT HIM.

I DON'T THINK HE NECESSARILY NEEDS THAT.

>> OKAY.

SO ELLIS, LET'S MOVE TO, YOU KNOW, TO ELECTION REFORM OR REFORM IN GENERAL.

WITH SOME JUSTIFICATION, I THINK "THE NEW YORK TIMES" CALLED THIS, QUOTE, ONE OF THE MOST ACRIMONIOUS PRIMARY SEASONS NEW YORK HAS SEEN IN LIVING MEMORY.

HOW DIFFERENT WOULD THIS PRIMARILY SEASON HAVE BEEN IF THE DEMOCRATS HAD RESISTED THE TEMPTATION TO GERRYMANDER THEMSELVES TO AN EXTRA THREE, FOUR, OR FIVE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE SEATS?

>> FAIR POINT, BUT DON'T FORGET, RAFAEL, STATE LEGISLATURES ACROSS AMERICA ARE DOING THAT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

>> OF COURSE.

NEW YORK DEMS THAT THEY DID ESSENTIALLY THE SAME THING TEXAS AND FLORIDA AND MY HOME STATE OF LOUISIANA AND ALL ARE DOING.

WE HAD A JUDGE HERE WHO SAID NO, SO IT CAUSED A HUGE DISCORD.

IT PUT THESE OLD DINOSAURS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

IT CAUSED A BIG MESS.

YOU HOPE NEXT TIME THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO IT SO THEY DON'T GET THEIR HAND SLAPPED ON >> SO SAL, YOU KNOW, DID THE CHASTISEMENT OF THE DEMOCRATS BY THE COURT AND THE GRIEF THAT IT ALL BROUGHT ON THEM, WAS THAT SUFFICIENT TO GET BOTH PARTIES TO TRY TO THINK TWICE BEFORE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING AGAIN HERE IN NEW YORK?

OR IS MORE NEEDED?

>> I THINK -- I MEAN, WHEN IT COMES TO REFORM, WE NEED TO OVERHAUL THE SYSTEM.

THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE PROBLEMS.

BUT I THINK THAT BOTH PARTIES ARE GOING TO BE MORE CAREFUL ABOUT PARTISAN REDISTRICTING, GIVEN THE COURT'S DECISION HERE IN NEW YORK.

I THINK ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WAS THAT CUOMO AND THE LEGISLATURE PROMISED THIS INDEPENDENT PROCESS.

IN FACT, THEY APPOINT ALL THE PEOPLE ON THE COMMISSION AND, OF COURSE, IT BROKE DOWN WITH BOTH PARTIES BASICALLY OPPOSED EACH OTHER, THEN THE STATE SENATE, RUN BY DEMOCRATS, OBVIOUSLY, REAPPORTIONED IN A VERY PARTISAN WAY, AND IT CAUSED ALL THIS CHAOS.

YOU KNOW, BUT ELLIS IS RIGHT, THIS GOES ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME STATES, CALIFORNIA, AND ARIZONA, HAVE REAL INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING IN PLACE WHERE IT'S FREE FROM POLITICAL INTERFERENCE, RELATIVELY FREE.

>> SAL, STICKING WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, AS EXPECTED, TURNOUT WAS DISMAL IN THIS PRIMARY SEASON.

IT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH ALL OF THE UNIQUE ODDITIES IN THIS BIZARRE REDISTRICTING, BUT LOW VOTER PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND LOCAL RACES, AT LEAST IN LOCAL RACES AND NEW YORK, NEW YORK STATE.

FOR YEARS YOU'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE.

WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR THIS LOW TURNOUT AND IF YOU COULD SUMMARIZE IT QUICKLY AS YOU CAN, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS YOU'RE PUSHING TO CHANGE THAT?

>> WELL, AS YOU KNOW, I'M CHAIRING THE NEW YORK FOR COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS TO REALLY OPEN UP THE PROCESS AND HAVE OPEN PRIMARIES.

WE HAVE 1.2 MILLION INDEPENDENT VOTERS IN NEW YORK CITY WHO CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION.

I THINK THAT WOULD -- COLORADO, BY THE WAY, HAS SHOWN THAT OPEN PRIMARIES INCREASES TURNOUT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT NEW YORK CITY, WITH THESE LOW -- AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE THESE PARTISAN CLOSED PRIMARIES WHERE IT WILL TURN OUT VOTERS, MOSTLY PARTISANS, BASICALLY RULE THE DAY BECAUSE THERE'S NO COMPETITIVE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

NEW YORK CITY, WE DON'T HAVE A COMPETITIVE GENERAL ELECTION FOR MAYOR, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THAT'S DANGEROUS.

ALASKA ADOPTED FINAL FIVE, WHICH KEPT LISA MURKOWSKI ALIVE.

SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD ON ARRIVAL BECAUSE SHE VOTED AGAINST TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT.

>> FINAL FIVE, GIVE US A QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT THAT IS?

>> QUICK SUMMARY, EVERYBODY, THERE'S A SINGLE BALLOT PRIMARY.

ALL CANDIDATES CAN PARTICIPATE, ALL VOTERS CAN VOTE, AND THEN THE TOP FIVE GO ON TO NOVEMBER.

>> YEAH.

REGARDLESS OF PARTY.

>> REGARDLESS OF PARTY AND THEN THERE IS A -- THERE'S RENT CHOICE VOTING KICKS IN, PASSED IN NEW YORK CITY, SO THE WINNER WILL HAVE THE MAJORITY OF VOTES, OVER 50% OF THE VOTE, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR GOVERNANCE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT APPEALING TO THAT TINY SLICE OF THE ELECTORATE IN PRIMARIES SO YOU BECOME MAYOR OR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE MAJORITY OF NEW YORKERS.

ALSO, WE DON'T HAVE COMPETITIVE GENERAL ELECTIONS HERE.

THAT'S WHEN MOST PEOPLE TURN OUT.

WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

WE HAVE A WEBSITE FINAL FIVE.NYC.

WE GOT A GRANT.

WE HIRED STAFF.

WE'RE WORKING TO TRY TO GET DOWN THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR.

>> WE PUSHED BACK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

WHY SHOULDN'T PARTIES HAVE PRIMARIES?

PEOPLE JOIN PARTIES BECAUSE THEY AGREE WITH THE IDEAS AND FUNDAMENTALS OF THE PARTY.

WHY SHOULD SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T SHARE THAT HAVE A SAY IN WHO REPRESENTS THAT PARTY?

>> IT'S FAIR ARGUMENT.

LOOK AT THE RESULTS.

IT PUSHED US INTO A DIVIDED NATION AND A VERY DIVIDED STATE BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU PLAY INTO THE AGGRIEVED, AGGRESSIVE NARROW PART OF YOUR BASE ON EACH SIDE AND THEN YOU END UP WITH THE CANDIDATES WHO REALLY DON'T REPRESENT THAT MANY PEOPLE.

I LOVE WHAT SAL WAS TALKING ABOUT.

THE CHALLENGE IS EXPLAINING.

IT ALL SEEMS A LITTLE COMPLICATED AND GROUPS OF FIVE AND RANK CHOICE VOTING.

WHAT I DISCOVER IS ONCE PEOPLE CALM DOWN AND SORT OF UNDERSTAND IT, I THINK IT MIGHT PRODUCE BETTER RESULTS.

>> WELL, ISN'T IT AS SIMPLE AS THE TOP FIVE GET TO RUN NO MATTER WHAT -- GET TO RUN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION NO MATTER WHAT THEIR PARTY AFFILIATION IS.

>> THAT'S THE WAY IT WOULD WORK.

>> IT WOULD BRING IN DIVERSE CANDIDATES AND MORE DIVERSE PARTIES SOME OF THE MINOR PARTIES WILL HAVE A ROLE IN IT.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE OF HOW IT WORKS IN ALASKA.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

IT'S NOT THAT -- IT'S NOT COMPLICATED.

IT SOUNDS COMPLICATED.

>> AS L. JOY KNOWS, RANK CHOICE VOTING IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPLICATED IN NEW YORK CITY AND PEOPLE ADJUSTED TO IT.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> WHAT I THINK ABOUT ELECTORAL REFORMS AND INCREASING TURNOUT IN GENERAL IS THAT WE OFTEN COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT ARE JUST LIKE THIS IS THE ONE THING THAT'S GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING, WHETHER IT'S RANK CHOICE VOTING, PRIMARIES OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

NOT REALIZING THAT EVEN AS WE LOOK AS YOU TALK ABOUT THE TURNOUT FROM LAST NIGHT, RIGHT, WHERE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, 300,000 REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, AND THE MOST YOU GET IS 20,000, YOU KNOW, 18,000 PEOPLE, EXCEPT FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL, YOU GET SOMETHING LIKE 80,000 PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S STILL INCREDIBLY LOW.

WHAT IS REQUIRED IS A NUMBER OF INVESTMENTS, NOT ONLY BREAKING THE TWO PARTY SYSTEM WHICH I BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO AND I SAY THIS EVEN AS A DEMOCRAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RIGHT, BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS FIT IN THESE ONE BOXES, BUT IT'S ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE INVEST IN FINANCIALLY IN AN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CIVIC EDUCATION ON A YEAR-ROUND BASIS SO NOT JUST PARTICIPATING IN ELECTIONS BUT ALSO PARTICIPATING WHETHER IT'S SCHOOL BOARDS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, WHETHER IT'S PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY BOARDS, WHETHER IT'S PARTICIPATING IN ALL OF THE OTHER ASPECTS OF GOVERNMENT, AND WHAT I FIND, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY AS I'VE DONE THIS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, IS PEOPLE ARE DISCONNECTED FROM THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY ARE -- THEY DON'T SEE ENTRY POINTS NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, THEY DON'T FEEL THEIR VOICE IS VALUABLE.

IF WE SORT OF BREAK IT DOWN TO PEOPLE THAT YOUR VOICE IS ONLY VALUABLE ON AN ELECTION DAY OR ABOUT AN ELECTION, THAT'S WHAT COMPLETELY DISCONNECTS PEOPLE FROM PARTICIPATING IN THEIR OWN SELF-GOVERNANCE.

>> LISTEN, WE ONLY GOT A MINUTE LEFT AND I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION OF ALL OF YOU.

AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE AND ALL WE'VE DISCUSSED, L. JOY, START WITH YOU, WHO WERE THE BIGGEST WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM YESTERDAY'S RESULTS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO PICK JUST ONE.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT I WOULD SAY I DON'T LIKE THE CHARACTERIZATION OF PROGRESSIVE VERSUS MODERATE PEOPLE.

I JUST DON'T THINK IT FITS HERE.

>> I WANT TO GET THE OTHER TWO GUYS IN HERE.

>> BUT I WILL SAY SORT OF THE PROGRESSIVE OPERATIONS, DEFINITELY IS A BIG WINNER AND GOING INTO RACES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> THE LOSER?

>> THE IEs WHO SPENT LOTS OF MONEY IN THESE RACES AND LOST.

>> OKAY.

QUICKLY, ELLIS.

WINNERS AND LOSERS?

>> I WOULD SAY BIG D DEMOCRATS.

IN THAT SPECIAL ELECTION UP THE HUDSON VALLEY, IF ABORTION OUTRAN INFLATION, VERY GOOD NEWS FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE MIDTERMS.

>> OKAY.

>> BIG LOSER IS CAROLYN MALONEY.

>> SAL, QUICKLY.

>> I AGREE WITH ELLIS ON INFLATION VERSUS ABORTION.

ABORTION IS THE BIG WONDER.

THE DEMOCRATS BENEFITTED.

ONE OF THE LOSERS WAS ERIC ADAMS THE MAYOR.

>> WE HAVE TO END IT THERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>>"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION AND BY -- ♪♪