Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon loses bid to become New York governor
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 13: New York Democratic primary candidate for governor Cynthia Nixon speaks with her her wife, Christine Marinoni, after making a concession speech at a Brooklyn restaurant on September 13, 2018 in New York City. In a race where she sought to attract disenfranchised voters and those on the left, the actress and activist was challenging the incumbent governor Andrew Cuomo. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
New York governor Andrew Cuomo has fended off a left-wing challenge from Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon.
Cuomo won 65 percent of the vote—winning a nomination for his third term in his role—in a decisive victory against Nixon, who got 35 percent of the vote,
Had she been elected, the former Sex and the City star would be the state’s first-ever out queer governor, and the first woman to serve in the role.
Nixon posted about the result on Twitter afterwards. (CynthiaNixon/Twitter)
Posting on Twitter afterward, Nixon wrote: “I want to thank all of the #TeamCynthia volunteers, supporters, and voters who dedicated their time to championing the progressive message of our campaign.
“I’m so proud of all the work we’ve done to build a New York that works for all of us.”
In a series of later tweets, Nixon said she was not “discouraged” by the result, adding: “This isn’t just a symbolic victory. This campaign forced the Governor to make concrete commitments that will change the lives of people across this state.”
Nixon continued: “To all the young people. To all the young women. To all the young queer people who reject the gender binary. Soon you’ll be standing here, and when it’s your turn, you’ll win.”
Supporters have praised the star for pushing Cuomo to the left on a number of issues, including taking steps toward the legalisation of cannabis and signing an order enabling felons on parole to vote.
In March, Nixon announced she would run for governor of New York in a powerful campaign video.
Nixon attending a rally for universal rent control on August 16, 2018 in New York City. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty)
Nixon—an Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner—has long opposed Cuomo’s policies, and has been especially vocal over the past year.
In the video, she said: “New York is my home, I’ve never lived anywhere else.
“When I grew up here, it was just my mum and me in a one-bedroom, fifth-floor walk-up.
“New York is where I was raised and where I’m raising my kids. I’m a proud public school graduate and a prouder public school parent.
“I was given chances I just don’t see for most of New York’s kids today,” Nixon continued.
“Our leaders are letting us down. We are now the most unequal state in the entire country, with both incredible wealth and extreme poverty.”
Cynthia Nixon at the Tony Award.s (Getty Images)
The 51-year-old actress is also an outspoken critic of President Trump.
She has blasted Mike Pence as the “poster boy for anti-LGBT rhetoric, legislation and conversion therapy,” calling on LGBT people to reject his agenda.
Speaking at a rally days after Trump was inaugurated, she said: “As LGBT people, we know how important coming out is, but I would argue that our coming out has never been more important than it is right now.
“We need to come out not just as queer, but as people who know all too well what it feels like to be put in a box that says ‘other,’ less than,’ ‘easy target if you’re looking for someone to bully, harass, discriminate against, demonise, beat up, even kill.”
And in January, the actress wrote on Twitter: “Taking our country back is going to require all of us to step up and take action – including more women, people of colour, queer people, and first-generation Americans running for office.”
