New York Primary Election: Gov. Andrew Cuomo Wins As Expected

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo won the Democratic primary nomination Tuesday and will compete for re-election in November. With 76 percent of votes counted, Cuomo had just over 60 percent to his liberal challenger's 36 percent.

With vastly more campaign resources, Cuomo was heavily favored to win the nomination and is now almost certain to win another term as governor, as he faces little-known Republican Rob Astorino in a solid blue state. Cuomo has governed New York since 2010. A win in November would give him a second term. His father, Mario Cuomo, served as New York governor for three terms.

Cuomo faced Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout, who repeatedly claimed Cuomo is too far right for New York. In response, Cuomo highlighted his administration’s legalization of gay marriage and passing some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. Notably, the New York Times refused to endorse either candidate -- Cuomo because the editorial board said he failed to clean up corruption in Albany, and Teachout because of her lack of experience. The Times conceded that Cuomo would win anyway. Last week, Cuomo refused to debate Teachout on public radio, leaving her to debate Astorino.

Cuomo’s pick, former one-term Democratic congresswoman Kathy Hochul, won the ticket for lieutenant governor over Teachout’s choice, Columbia law professor Tim Wu. Hochul, publicly praised by Hillary Clinton, is known for winning an election in one of New York’s most conservative districts in 2011, though she lost the re-election.