Brian Cunningham Declared Winner In Crown Heights Assembly Race

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Assemblymember Brian Cunningham has been declared a winner in the 43rd District's crowded Democratic primary, all but securing his full-term reign in the district, according to NY1.

Cunningham — who took office after a special election earlier this year — received 59 percent of the vote with nearly all of precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the city's Board of Elections. The race was called by NY1 on Wednesday morning.

His opponent, Jelanie Deshong, held 19 percent of the vote, according to the unofficial results. Candidates Tim Hunter and Pierre Albert had received around 13 and 8 percent, respectively, according to the results.

Cunningham had not commented on the race results as of Wednesday.

The 43rd District includes parts of Crown Heights, East Flatbush and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.

The June 28 Democratic primary comes a few months after a special election in District 43 was held to replace Assembly Member Diana Richardson, who left her 43rd District seat to become the deputy borough president under newly-elected Borough President Antonio Reynoso.

The general primary included Cunningham, who beat out two candidates in the special election, including Deshong. Albert and Hunter are both newcomers to the race.

"I’m honored that the people of District 43 have selected me to serve them in Albany," Cunningham said after first being elected. "We have a lot to do to improve our communities and I don’t want to waste a single second."

The assembly races were the only district-level primaries held on June 28 given an ongoing court battle over redistricting maps. Both the congressional and state senate races in New York have been postponed to August 23 due to the redistricting.

Also in Crown Heights, Assemblymember Latrice Walker was declared a winner in the 55th District, which includes the western portion of the neighborhood and parts of Bed-Stuy and Brownsville.

Prospect Heights' assembly district, 44, did not appear on Tuesday's ballot given that incumbent Assemblymember Robert Carroll ran unopposed.

In the statewide races, Governor Kathy Hochul cinched the Democratic nominee, according to unofficial results.