BY YANNIC RACK | It was primary day on Tues., Apr. 19, and West Side voters flocked to the polls to cast their ballots, in an election season that has taken a ruthless editor’s red pen to the rulebook — including that passage about New York not having the ability to shift the balance of power in the race for president.
Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen overwhelmingly backed Hillary Clinton, with only a single precinct favoring Bernie Sanders (and one delivering a tie). The results in the neighborhoods reflected the overall outcome in the state, and especially the city, where Clinton prevailed with over 63 percent of the vote to Sanders’ roughly 37, according to results from The Associated Press.
Republican voters were spread thin in the area, but those that did turn out largely backed New York native Donald Trump and Ohio governor John Kasich.
Despite the persistent questioning of those exiting two polling stations on the West Side, Chelsea Now did not find a single voter willing to identify as a registered Republican. We did, however, quiz plenty of proud Democrats, to find out what issues they cared about most, who they predict will face off for the highest office in the land come November, and whether they would show up to cast a ballot if their preferred candidate did not secure the party’s nomination.
OUTSIDE OF BAYARD RUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL IN CHELSEA | (351 W. 18th St., btw. Eighth & Ninth Aves.)
Brian Fithian, 27 & Jacqueline Dow, 28
Voted for: Bernie Sanders
Years in the neighborhood: 3 and 9
What issue(s) brought you to the polls today?
Fithian: “This is my first time voting in a primary, and I guess the issues I care most about are Bernie Sanders’ economic policies and his attitude towards free public college. That’s probably what gets me most excited about his campaign.”
Dow: “I came out mostly for social issues, I think that Bernie cares much more about people than most of the other candidates. I’m staunchly against all the Republican candidates. I think they’re all terrible people!”
What’s your prediction for the candidate matchup in November?
Fithian: “Probably Hillary Clinton versus Ted Cruz.”
Dow: “I’m very nervous that it’s going to be Hillary-Trump. I’m hoping for Bernie, because I think he can beat him [Trump].”
Would you support the other candidate if they get the nomination?
Fithian: “Yes.”
Dow: “Absolutely.”
Alex Stylianides, 30
Years in the neighborhood: 7
Voted for: Bernie Sanders
What issue(s) brought you to the polls today?
“I’m a huge Bernie supporter — yuge! I feel like he encapsulates everything that I stand for. Everything that he says I agree with, so I feel like repeating his platform is redundant. One very important point is income inequality, I would say.”
What’s your prediction for the candidate matchup in November?
“I think Hillary and Trump is where we’re headed, but I want to stay optimistic, and I think Bernie still has a shot. But I’m 60 percent sure it will be Hillary and Trump.”
Would you support the other candidate if they get the nomination?
“If it was between her and Trump, I would. If it was between her and Ted Cruz — I don’t think I’d bother to vote in that case!”
Jane Greenwood, 81
Years in the neighborhood: 50
Voted for: Hillary Clinton
What issue(s) brought you to the polls today?
“My very definite issue of wanting to vote for Hillary Clinton to be the next president! I think she seems the most qualified. I look at all the candidates that we’re having offered to us, and I feel she’s very level-headed, and I just feel comfortable about her.”
What’s your prediction for the candidate matchup in November?
“I think it’s going to be very difficult, I don’t know who will come out of the Republican field. So I’m not going to predict it.”
Would you support the other candidate if they get the nomination?
“Yes, but I’m hoping for Hillary!”
Naomi, 77
Years in the neighborhood: 20+
Voted for: Hillary Clinton
What issue(s) brought you to the polls today?
“The real issue was Clinton, I want to see Clinton elected — even though I love Bernie Sanders and everything he stands for. But I don’t think it’s humanly possible in this atmosphere for him to do it. I don’t think he’s a realistic candidate.”
What’s your prediction for the candidate matchup in November?
“I suppose it looks like it’s going to be Trump and Clinton, which is just bizarre!”
Would you support the other candidate if they get the nomination?
“Oh yes, of course.”
Gregory, 65
Years in the neighborhood: 40
Voted for: Hillary Clinton
What issue(s) brought you to the polls today?
“It’s gotta be Hillary. We already had a black president, now let’s have a woman. And she has experience. Her husband was president, and those were good times. I’m sure he will give her a little advice if she ever gets tied up. I hadn’t even heard about Sanders before this election, he clearly doesn’t have the experience. I mean, the woman’s been Secretary of State!”
What’s your prediction for the candidate matchup in November?
“It looks like Trump is going to be it. But Hillary has a chance, because she’s just more knowledgeable.”
Would you support the other candidate if they get the nomination?
“I would have to. That’s what everybody should do — support the party. We can’t let the Republicans win, no matter who they put out there for themselves.”
Brigitte Gilliam
Years in the neighborhood: Born there
Voted for: Hillary Clinton
What issue(s) brought you to the polls today?
“The economy, the middle class and equal rights for all!”
What’s your prediction for the candidate matchup in November?
“God forbid, she’ll be facing Trump. But I really hope not. I think she’d have a much better chance against Cruz. Trump doesn’t know anything about what’s going on in the world — he knows about business and real estate.”
Would you support the other candidate if they get the nomination?
“Yes, I would. I would just hope [Bernie Sanders] would have a great cabinet to help him in the White House, because he just doesn’t have as much experience as Hillary. That’s my fear.”
OUTSIDE OF PS 111 IN HELL’S KITCHEN | (440 W. 53rd St., btw. Ninth & 10th Aves.)
Wesley Westenberg, 54 & Benito Larow, 53
Years in the neighborhood: 7
Voted for: Hillary Clinton
What issue(s) brought you to the polls today?
Westenberg: “Hillary, and her experience. Her husband, she was Secretary of State — that’s what I voted for.”
Larow: “Same thing.”
What’s your prediction for the candidate matchup in November?
Westenberg: “It’s gonna be Hillary and Trump.”
Would you support the other candidate if they get the nomination?
Larow: “Of course.”
Jamie Roach, 33
Years in the neighborhood: 4
Voted for: Bernie Sanders
What issue(s) brought you to the polls today?
“There’s so many things that it effects, like healthcare, LGBT rights, our international relationships, the way that big banks work and companies are allowed to operate. I sat in that room forever hovering over my ballot! I came down without knowing who I was going to vote for. I’ve been weighing it for months, listening to everyone’s opinions — and I finally just sat and thought for myself. I walked out sort of conflicted. I feel like it’s a higher stakes bet!”
What’s your prediction for the candidate matchup in November?
“I have no idea, which is kind of exciting. I feel like it could totally go either way.”
Would you support the other candidate if they get the nomination?
“Yes.”
Greta Dunn
Years in the neighborhood: 20+
Voted for: Hillary Clinton
What issue(s) brought you to the polls today?
“Housing and living, just surviving in New York. Healthcare. And Trump! We cannot let him take office; things will really go downhill. But housing and health insurance is really an issue that is not being addressed. Homelessness is on the rise; there’s no affordable housing. Either you have two grand to pay for rent, otherwise you’re gonna live in a rat-infested, run-down area. People get minimum wage and can’t support their families. People are starving and this is supposed to be one of the richest countries in the world. Something’s gotta be done.”
What’s your prediction for the candidate matchup in November?
“Hillary’s my girl, she’s gonna do it! But it might be Bernie. Anything is possible.”
Would you support the other candidate if they get the nomination?
“Yes.”
