US primaries: Why New York will have a two-phase election

New York’s primary elections will be conducted in two parts before the midterm polls in November this year. The first half of the primary elections will cover statewide offices and state assembly races and will be conducted on June 28, 2022.

The second half of the elections will focus on all remaining and undecided races, if any. These will include the Congressional seats — House of Representatives and Senate — and will be conducted on August 23, 2022.

Also Read: New York governor Kathy Hochul to face a crowded Democratic primary

Why were the New York primary elections split?

The Congressional elections were delayed because of a redistricting lawsuit that led a court to throw out new political maps. The number of Representatives from each state is decided on how many Congressional districts are available.

In May this year, a federal judge ordered New York’s electoral authorities to delay the elections. Democratic lawmakers were attempting to keep the elections in June, according to media reports.

US District Judge Gary Sharpe wrote in his order, “The later primary will accommodate the preparation of new Congressional maps and still provide ample time for compliance”, according to NBC reports.

The delay could play out in favour of conservatives

Even though Republicans and Democrats do not clash in primary elections, candidates running in swing states may have a chance to dodge the impact of recent US Supreme Court rulings, including the reversal of Roe v. Wade and expanding gun rights.

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Many Democrats, including US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, urged American voters to make abortion and gun violence an electoral issue.

New York governor Kathy Hochul is currently considered to be a front runner in the upcoming Democratic primary race. The Republican side is crowded too, with Andrew Giuliani, the son of New York City’s former mayor Rudy Giuliani being a popular candidate amongst supporters of former President Donald Trump.