Kim, Meng win primary contests against challengers

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After a combative primary race got personal, including charges of cyberbullying, an avalanche of insults and burner accounts on Twitter, Assemblyman Ron Kim cruised to victory against challenger Steven Lee.

With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Kim received 2,112 votes, representing nearly 70 percent of the vote. Lee, an NYPD sergeant running to the right of Kim, only got 923 votes, or 30 percent.

Though tens of thousands of absentee ballots still have to be counted before the results are official, Kim has a commanding lead, and is likely to emerge victorious in the race.

Another Flushing incumbent, Congresswoman Grace Meng, also won her primary contest against two challengers.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Meng received 15,181 votes, good for 61 percent.

Challenger Melquiades Gagarin, a progressive activist, won 5,261 votes, or 21 percent. Sandra Choi, another first-time candidate, received 4,318 votes, or 17 percent.

Though the district leans heavily Democratic, Meng will still face Republican nominee Thomas Zmich in the general election in November.

In the race for Queens borough president, Councilman Donovan Richards is leading all candidates with 41,915 votes, or 37.2 percent, with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

Trailing Donovan is former Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, who has 31,781 votes, or 28 percent.

Councilman Costa Constantinides is coming in third, with 17,164 votes, or 15 percent. Closely behind him is Anthony Miranda, with 14.7 percent, and Dao Yin, with 4.5 percent.

Though Richards is ahead by a decent margin, this is a race that will be decided after absentee ballots are counted.

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