It’s not just the winner of the high-profile Latimer-Bowman primary with something to gain in today’s New York primary. Party factions, fellow politicians and outside spenders who aligned themselves with contenders across the state — or worked furiously against their rivals — can claim success by extension. Here are some OTHER winners likely to emerge after polls close tonight: THE MODERATES: After years of high-profile gains by left-leaning New York Democrats, the moderate wing of the party is poised to fight back. In Albany County, longtime District Attorney David Soares has positioned himself as an opponent of criminal justice law changes sought by liberal activists. On Long Island, former CNN commentator John Avlon, an adviser to Rudy Giuliani during his time as New York City mayor, has locked up the support of state Democratic chair Jay Jacobs and other party leaders. And George Latimer, a veteran officeholder in Westchester County, has dominated the polls as he tries to wrest the Democratic nomination away from two-term Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a Squad member and Israel critic. “The pendulum is starting to swing back,” Jason Elan, a Democratic former staffer for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, told Playbook. “It’s a national phenomenon and it’s happening in New York as well.” Boosting moderates is a strategy that comes two years after Republicans made gains in the New York City suburbs. Polls show independent voters have continued to side with GOP arguments on crime and the migrant crisis — spelling potential trouble for Democrats. Victories by moderates could also be comforting news for President Joe Biden, who has tangled with the far left over his support for Israel. The president is struggling in polls nationally and has a mere 8-point advantage over former President Donald Trump in New York. — Nick Reisman THE ENDORSERS: Sure, one of their own might lose his primary, but members of the Democratic delegation have taken local candidates under their wing and could earn some credit with wins. Rep. Jerry Nadler is out stumping for Assembly candidate Micah Lasher on the Upper West Side, and the representative’s name is all over his lit. A big win would prove Nadler is as strong of a brand as Zabar’s — and the partnership has fueled rumors Lasher is positioning himself as a successor upon Nadler’s inevitably looming retirement. Rep. Adriano Espaillat has picked a fight with Black leaders by endorsing two Latino allies challenging Black Assembly incumbents — but he didn’t build his Squadriano by playing it safe. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has given her seal of approval to Assembly challengers Claire Valdez and Jonathan Soto, who used to work for her. Rep. Greg Meeks is battling her candidate, as Queens Dems leader, in an Assembly race, but his biggest priorities are making sure old foe Hiram Monserrate doesn’t win a legislative seat and keeping Judge Cassandra Johnson in the Surrogate’s Court. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — who largely stayed out of the Bowman race after an initial endorsement — badly wants to deal DSA a blow in Bed-Stuy by keeping Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman in office. He’s also lent his name to a pair of county-aligned district leader candidates in Coney Island. And then there’s Rep. Ritchie Torres. While he didn’t formally endorse Latimer, he’s made his preference clear, and will surely be making a multitweet victory speech if Bowman loses. — Jeff Coltin THE SPECIAL INTERESTS: A defeat for Bowman would be a win for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, period. Bowman and his hard-left coalition have fought ferociously against record-high outside spending via GOP mega-donors, framing the primary as “the many, not the money.” And “the money” is the staggering $14.8 million that AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, has spent in the primary to flex its muscle and send a message about its commitment to pro-Israel candidates. (Whether the lobby could have targeted a vulnerable Bowman with far less spending is an open question.) In state legislative races, it’s been the pro-charter school New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany that has sought to tip the scale, supporting Zinerman, Taylor Darling and others with a $1.2 million total spend. Like AIPAC, New Yorkers for a Balanced Albany has also supported Republican candidates. Latimer, who has benefited from the AIPAC onslaught, was asked recently on the campaign trail about reversing Citizens United — the Supreme Court decision that threw open the door to unlimited outside spending in campaigns. He responded that Bowman was also boosted by independent expenditures, saying, “So if you want to clean the whole thing up, I’m for cleaning the whole thing up.” — Emily Ngo HAPPY PRIMARY DAY! IT’S TUESDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
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