De Blasio tops NY mayoral primary, may face runoff
Updated 3 am
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio completed his surge from seemingly nowhere in New York City’s mayoral primary Tuesday by taking a commanding lead on his Democratic opponents, hovering near the threshold needed to avoid a runoff.
Former Metropolitan Transit Authority Chairman Joe Lhota easily won the GOP nomination, capping a chaotic primary to succeed 12 years of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The night also marked the unceremonious end to the bid by a City Council leader trying to become the first female and openly gay mayor, and to the political comebacks of scandal-scarred candidates Anthony Weiner and Eliot Spitzer.
“We are better as a city when we make sure that everyone has a shot,” de Blasio told his raucous Brooklyn victory party, emphasizing his campaign theme of combatting income inequality. “We begin tonight.”