Campaign diary

Voters yawn as candidates bite fingernails

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On his way to vote in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, Riverdalian Robert Zolf encountered former Councilman Oliver Koppell, the challenger to state Sen. Co-majority Leader Jeff Klein. A few paces down the same block, he met the incumbent himself.

“This is awkward,” Mr. Zolf said aloud after receiving a handshake from Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, who was among a group of supporters standing by Mr. Klein outside the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (M.S./H.S. 141) on Independence Avenue.

Mr. Koppell’s challenge to his onetime ally Mr. Klein severely tested loyalties in Riverdale, where many residents have had close ties to both politicians for years.

“I know he served the district very, very well for years,” Mr. Zolf, 63, said of Mr. Koppell. “The same can be said of Mr. Klein.”

Mr. Zolf said it was hard for him to pick between the candidates. But on his way out of the polling place, he said he voted for Mr. Klein.

“When it comes down to it, I’m more of a mainstream kind of guy,” he said.

Tuesday’s vote also included the Democratic candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and a range of state Senate and Assembly seats. With endorsements from Gov. Andrew Cuomo (see Political arena), Mayor Bill de Blasio and nearly every Democratic incumbent in the Bronx, Mr. Klein was favored to win his race.

His 34th state Senate district primary not only determined who would likely represent Riverdale, part of Westchester and a wide swath of the rest of the Bronx. Mr. Koppell’s challenge also threatened to alter the prevailing dynamic in Albany, where Mr. Klein has co-lead the senate with strong support from the governor for the past two years.

Jeff Klein, Oliver Koppell, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Andrew Cuomo, RKA, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Fernando Cabrera, Shant Shahrigian
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