Only 87,000 of the 3.6 million registered Democrats and Republicans voted in the nine days leading up to Tuesday’s snap vote – a staggering just 2.4 percent, according to data from the city’s BOE. Turnout among Democrats was slightly above average at 2.6%, although Gov. Kathy Hotsul strongly favors defeating her key challengers in today’s vote. Only 1.4 percent of Republican voters voted in advance in the four-way contest to challenge Hotsul in November. “It seems endemic, people just don’t care about it, except when you have a real race,” said Doug Muzzio, a political science professor at CUNY’s Baruch College. “And most of the matches were – to be honest – postponed, and he is similar.” Hochul’s challengers, spokesman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island) and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, lagged behind in the polls for the entire race and could not compete with the $ 33 million he has raised so far. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul favors defeating key challengers in today’s vote. Tori Schneebaum / NY Post “People just don’t care about it unless you have a real race,” said Doug Muzzio.Robert Miller for the NY Post Meanwhile, the GOP establishment was unable to clear the way for spokesman Lee Zeldin (R-Long Island), who faced a strong challenge from former Westchester County executive Rob Astorino, businessman Harry Wilson and Andrew Giuliani. , the son of former mayor Rudy. Giuliani and a former aide to Trump in the White House. “The vote of the Italian-Americans is huge in the Republican primary. “It dominates downstate turnout, but it also has subway pockets for most of Upstate,” said Bruce Gyory, a political science professor at the University of Albany. “The question is – does Astorino undermine Giuliani more with Italian voters in all areas,” Giori asked. “Is Wilson with the heavy TV commercials hurting Zeldin in the senior states?” The four Republican candidates confronted each other during the debate over the Republican governor of New York on June 20, 2022. Brittainy Newman / Newsday via AP However, a longtime political adviser and activist said the race was likely to heat up ahead of the November general election thanks to a combination of bad economic news, controversial arms rulings and abortions by the US Supreme Court. first race ruler with a woman. Hochul, at the top of the ticket. “This will be a potentially explosive nationwide election – given the historic trends of the midterm elections, combined with Supreme Court rulings, combined with the first female governor in our state history,” said Peter Kauffman, a former councilor. of Hillary. Clinton and other top Democrats. “There will be a lot of energy on both sides.” – Additional references by Bernadette Hogan and Zach Williams