Democratic Bill de Blasio hearing news that he is projected to be the next mayor of New York City.
Credit: @StanGreenberg/Twitter
After months of campaign stops, debates and a heated primary election, Democratic candidate Bill de Blasio is the next mayor of New York City.
“Let me be clear: All of our work is really just beginning. And we have no illusions about what lies ahead. Tackling inequality isn’t easy,” the public advocate said during a victory speech at the Park Slope Armory on Tuesday night.
According to exit poll results, de Blasio defeated Republican Joe Lhota 73 to 24 percent.
“Even though we have our differences I know he loves the city as much as I do,” de Blasio said of Lhota.
A little while after the results came in, Lhota joined supporters with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” playing in the background. He called de Blasio to congratulate him at 9:29 p.m., according de Blasio’s spokespeople. Current Mayor Michael Bloomberg also called de Blasio.
“It was a good fight, and a fight worth having,” Lhota said during a concession speech at the Gansevoort Park Hotel in Manhattan.
In his concession speech, Lhota said he hoped his mayor-elect understands that the city should “move forward not backwards.”
“Despite what you might have heard, we are one city,” Lhota said, before thanking supporters and staff.
During his victory speech, de Blasio said the city must keep with progressive ideals to ensure New York City’s brightest days are still ahead.
“For generations New York has meant opportunity. That’s what it has been to so many and that’s what it must be again,” de Blasio said.
After his speech, de Blasio, his wife and two children did their signature dance move: “the smackdown.”
Earlier on Election Day, de Blasio said he was “very optimistic about today.”
“I’m looking forward to tonight,” de Blasio said after casting his ballot. “I’m very optimistic about tonight.”
Lhota added later in the night that he wasn’t “going to give a postmortem analysis” after the loss.
“You won’t have me to kick around for a while,” he said, paraphrasing President Richard Nixon after losing a gubernatorialrace in California.
Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter:@danielleiat.
Follow Anna Sanders on Twitter: @AnnaESanders.
