Statehouse races to watch: Chu/Chan, Brook-Krasny/McCreight, Gounardes/LaBella

November 1, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Absentee ballots sit inside a sealed ballot box during early voting in the primary election, June 14, 2023, in the SoHo neighborhood of New York. AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File

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BROOKLYN – MOST NYC STATE Senate and Assembly races on the ballot this election are either unopposed or uncompetitive, reports Gothamist, with only a handful being truly contested, including three key seats in Brooklyn.

In southern Brooklyn’s 17th Senate District, incumbent Democrat Iwen Chu, a freshman running on a platform of street and public safety and education, is facing off against challenger Republican Steve Chan, who is running on a tough-on-crime stance and opposition to a Bensonhurst homeless shelter. Chu cites her immigrant background as core to her political views, while Chan points to his experience as a Marine and police officer.

In the 46th Assembly District, also in southern Brooklyn, incumbent Alec Brook-Krasny, a former Democrat who became a Republican in 2022, is facing Democrat Chris McCreight, the ex-chief of staff for Councilmember Justin Brannan. Brook-Krasny is running on a conservative, pro-police and anti-socialism platform, while McCreight is running on a liberal, pro-public transportation and gun control platform, emphasizing civil rights. The candidates overlap on local issues, including increased NYCHA and schools funding, small business and affordable housing support, and eliminating bail reform.

In the waterfront Brooklyn 26th Senate District, incumbent Democrat Andrew Gounardes is facing Republican Vito LaBella. While Gounardes won his most recent election by a very wide margin, LaBella is a political veteran who in 2022 lost his 17th Senate District seat to Iwen Chu by just 215 votes. Gounardes is running on his eight-year Senate record and on a platform of constituent access, working family support and affordable housing, while LaBella highlights his experience as an NYPD lieutenant, and is running on a platform of immigration enforcement and business tax incentives.

Early voting is open through Nov. 3 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, when polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. More information about voting procedures and districts can be found online on the city’s vote.nyc website.

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