Though they didn't produce Primary Day upsets at the top of the Democratic ticket, gubernatorial challenger Zephyr Teachout did earn 35 percent of the vote, Lieutenant Governor hopeful Tim Wu, 40 percent. "Those are numbers that both the Governor and Kathy Hochul should pay close attention to," said Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy.
During a post-Primary discussion on WBFO's Morning Edition, McCarthy said the vote percentages earned by the challengers showed that Governor Cuomo needs to shore up his Democratic base prior to his November battle against Republican Rob Astorino.
State Senator Mark Grisanti lost in the 60th Senate District Republican Primary to Kevin Stocker by 14 percentage points.
"I was surprised by this one," McCarthy said. "Especially by the margin."
McCarthy noted the difficulties Grisanti has faced as an elected Republican in a Democratic-heavy district. Grisanti has indicated that he will campaign on the Independence Party line for the November election.
McCarthy was also closely following the battle in the 63rd Senate Democratic Primary where incumbent Tim Kennedy was challenged by Erie County Legislator Betty Jean Grant. It was a repeat of the 2012 primary which Kennedy won by just over 100 votes. This year, Kennedy won by nearly 20 percentage points.