Pundit: Likely Results Of Primaries Indicate New York Congressional Delegation Moving In A New Direction

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The final tally for New York's Congressional primaries may not be known for weeks, but one thing is certain: there will be a change in the delegation the state sends to Washington -- a change in priorities.

Mondaire Jones is the new face of change in the New York Congressional Delegation. With 60% of the vote in a multi-candidate field, the Harvard Law School graduate is on track to replace retiring Westchester Congresswoman Nita Lowey. In doing so, he'd become the nation's first black and gay congressman.

"I think what we're seeing in New York state politics in particular is a large wing of the party saying business as usual is unacceptable," Jones told CBS2's Marcia Kramer.

MOREAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez Wins Democratic Nomination, Joe Biden Wins Democratic Primary In New York

MORE: 2020 New York Primary Results

Jones said his priorities are different. Lowey was the powerful chair of the House Appropriations Committee. He wants to serve on the Transportation and Climate Change committees.

"We need a green new deal. We have to decarbonize our economy in order to save the planet," Jones said.

MORENYCLU, Public Advocate Push Board Of Elections To Address Voting Issues Before November

His expected victory is just the start. Progressive Jamaal Bowman is well on his way to unseating House Foreign Relations Chair Eliot Engel.

"It feels good to be up by this much, but we still gotta count the absentee ballots," Bowman said.

MORECampaign 2020: New York Voters Cast Their Ballots Tuesday In Primary Races

City Councilman Ritchie Torres is leading in the multi-candidate race to replace retiring Jose Serrano, the longest-serving Hispanic in Congress.

Political pundits say they expect the new crop of congressmen to have new priorities reflecting a new generation. Some worry, however, about the effect the loss of seniority and how it will impact New York.

MORENew York Primary Plagued By Voting Issues, Including Long Lines, Broken Machines And Absentee Ballot Mix-Ups

Baruch College professor David Birdsell told Kramer the focus of the delegation will change, no longer fixating on real estate and the financial sector.

"More investment in public health, potentially more investment in public education, potentially more investment in infrastructure," Birdsell said.

One person who stands to gain is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who won her own primary commandingly and backed both Jones and Bowman.

Birdsell said that will make her one of the most visible faces in Washington and a force to be reckoned with.

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.