Voters Head To The Polls For Long Island Primaries
MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Four candidates are competing for the chance to replace longtime Rep. Carolyn McCarthy.
The race in Nassau County's 4th Congressional District's Republican primary pits Bruce Blakeman, a former Port Authority commissioner, against political outsider Frank Scaturro, who has made several unsuccessful bids for the nomination.
EXTRAS: Nassau County Board Of Elections | Suffolk County Board Of Elections | NY State Board Of Elections
In the Democratic primary, Kathleen Rice, a three-term district attorney who ran unsuccessfully for state attorney general in 2010, is seeking McCarthy's seat. McCarthy announced earlier this year she would not seek a 10th term in the House after disclosing she was fighting cancer.
Rice is being challenged by Kevan Abrahams, who is the leader of the Democratic caucus in the county legislature. McCarthy, who became a national figure in the gun control debate after her husband was killed and son wounded in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road massacre, has endorsed Rice.
Rice has attracted national attention for her crackdowns on drunken driving and cheating on college entrance exams. Abrahams argues he has more legislative experience than his opponent.
By early June, Rice had raised $2,116,238, or about 10 times more than her challenger. Abrahams had collected $162,132, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
In the Republican primary, Blakeman had raised $403,426 as of early June, compared with $189,482 raised by Scaturro. Blakeman is the choice of the GOP organization in Nassau County, while Scaturro has been a frequent critic of those running the party.
Blakeman also is known as the ex-husband of Nancy Shevell, who married former Beatle Paul McCartney in 2011.
In the other races, two Republicans are facing off in the 1st District, which covers Suffolk County. George Demos and Lee Zeldin are vying for the chance to take on Democrat incumbent Tim Bishop in the November general election.
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