By Joe Esposito
On Thursday, Sept. 13, New Yorkers will head to the polls to cast their vote for Democratic candidate for governor. The candidates are the incumbent, Governor Andrew Cuomo and challenger Cynthia Nixon. The winner of this race will face the Republican candidate, Marc Molinaro, in the general election on Nov. 6.
Criminal justice reform has been at the forefront of the issues facing New York City. Cuomo, who has been serving as governor since 2011, has defended his record of reforming an outdated criminal justice system. He has touted accomplishments such as raising the criminal age of responsibility to 18 years old and creating programs to lower the recidivism rate, or the rate at which people with criminal records commit additional crimes. Nixon has challenged Cuomo for not being strong enough on many of these issues. For example, according to her campaign website, she supports ending solitary confinement and arrests for low-level offenses and claims Cuomo does not. Nixon has been a staunch proponent of closing Riker’s Island.
Health care is another issue on which Cuomo and Nixon have sparred. Nixon has advocated for the New York Health Act which would create a single-payer health care system, or “Medicare For All.” In such a system, the government would provide healthcare for all residents, with taxes doing the financing. Nixon has argued that such a system would allow for no copays or deductibles. Cuomo has shown some support for this idea, but has also expressed skepticism regarding the ability to fund such a system in the short term. Therefore, while he thinks the idea should be explored, he supports a transition to such a system on the federal level.
Immigration has also been a key issue, not just on the federal level, but also here in New York State. Nixon has been a proponent of immigration reform. Specifically, she has been critical of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE. She, like many others, has called for the government agency to be abolished. Furthermore, she has advocated allowing undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses; she claims that Cuomo has refused to do this. She also supports the Liberty Act, which would make New York a sanctuary state. Cuomo has also taken a firm stance on immigration, claiming he has stood up to Trump by suing him due to his immigration policies. While he does not support abolishing ICE, he has been critical of the group, claiming he will keep a watchful eye on the agency. He touts accomplishments such as passing the DREAM Act and has vowed to keep fighting for DREAMERs.
A recent Siena Institute Research poll shows Cuomo ahead of Nixon 63 percent to 22 percent, a 41 percent lead, according to the Wall Street Journal. In such polls, Cuomo is more favorable compared to Nixon among all ages, genders and racial groups, according to The New York Times. Cuomo has his greatest support among African-Americans, 75 percent of which support him. While Nixon has run very much to the left of the governor, he still polls better against her among liberal Democrats, 57 percent to 35 percent, according to The New York Times.
The governor has received endorsements from former Vice President Biden, former Secretary Hillary Clinton and Senator Chuck Schumer. Nixon has received endorsements from Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez, Democratic candidate for Congress as well as Zephyr Teachout, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Mayor Bill de Blasio has not endorsed either candidate.
