Voter turnout in the frum areas of Brooklyn and Monsey — driven by calls to vote for President Trump, in gratitude — scratched the ceilings of the record books.
Although Trump did not win, his coattails were long. The droves of Orthodox voters sent some longtime community foes into early retirement, and knocked off an incumbent congressman. Democratic hopes of reaching a 42-seat supermajority in the state senate — enough to override Governor Andrew Cuomo’s veto and cement a permanent blue majority when the new district maps are drawn — were dashed.
The extraordinary numbers —New Square and Kiryas Joel gave Trump a hair away from 100 percent — could not have come at a better time for New York City’s Jews. Boro Park recorded an impressive 82 percent vote for the president, or close to 24,000 votes, with 17 percent, or fewer than 5,000, for Joe Biden. Kaser, the Vizhnitzer village in Rockland, went for Trump by a 1,408 to four, while Monsey was 5,562 to 144 in Trump’s favor.
The results will be studied closely by the people queuing up to run for mayor next year. While frum Jews tend to vote Republican, most are registered Democrats, making them a sought-after prize in what is expected to be a close election.
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