Harvey Epstein coasted to an easy victory in the 74th Assembly District last night. In a special election, the longtime Lower East Side housing activist defeated three opponents. He replaces Brian Kavanagh, who now represents the 26th Senate District.
According to the State Board of Elections, Epstein captured almost 77% of the vote (with 104 of 107 precincts reporting). Republican Bryan Cooper came in with 4.6%, while Juan Pagan (Reform Party) had 2.2% and Adrienne R. Craig-Williams (Green Party) pulled in 2.1%. The turnout was embarrassingly low. Out of 76,195 registered voters, only 4.318 bothered to vote yesterday in the 74th AD.
Epstein is a public interest attorney, former Community Board 3 member and a former member of the Rent Guidelines Board. He was making the rounds last night, even stopping in to see his old friends at CB3, who were attending the board’s monthly meeting at P.S. 20. Over the weekend, we published a profile of Epstein in which he discussed his top priorities in Albany.
The 74th Assembly District includes the East Side of Manhattan below Midtown, including the East Village (where Epstein lives), and a few sections of the Lower East Side. The seat has been vacant since this past December.
Thank you to the voters of tonight’s special election! Here’s to upholding progressive values and moving the state forward for all #Harvey4NY #Harvey4NY pic.twitter.com/XWr1qllIYD
— Harvey Epstein (@HarveyforNY) April 25, 2018
