The Washington Post is reporting that with 97 percent of precincts recorded in Tuesday's Democratic primary race for New York City mayor, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio captured about 40.2 percent of the total vote, which puts him slightly above the 40 percent threshold needed to avoid triggering a runoff on Oct. 1.
The swirling, chaotic campaign to replace Mayor Michael Bloomberg, which featured Anthony Weiner’s latest sexting scandal and at least three lead changes in the polls, was fittingly plunged into uncertainty again after the Tuesday primary bled into early Wednesday.
If de Blasio cannot maintain the lead, he could face former city Comptroller Bill Thompson, who has 26 percent, for a potentially grueling three-week battle. The winner will move on to face Republican nominee Joe Lhota in the general election.
But it may take a week or more before it is known whether that battle will be fought at all.
The campaign will take a pause Wednesday as the city stops to observe the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Later this week, election officials will recount all the ballots cast Tuesday. It will likely take until early next week before they tabulate an additional 30,000 or more votes as absentee ballots arrive by mail and paperwork comes in from voters who had problems at the polls.
Read more at the Washington Post.