Rice, Blakeman win primaries

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The district attorney has the greatest name recognition of any candidate in the field, and she also received the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s backing and the endorsement of Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, the 4th District’s current incumbent, who is retiring. Jay Jacobs, the Nassau County Democratic Committee chairman, declined to back either candidate, citing the longstanding ties both have to the party and the county.

Both Rice and Abrahams said they support gun control measures, want to increase gender equality and protect women’s reproductive rights, and raise the federal minimum wage. Both touted their records and argued they were best qualified to fight for constituents’ interests in Washington.

When Blakeman announced his candidacy in a press conference earlier this year, several Nassau Republican heavyweights stood beside him, including Rep. Pete King. Blakeman received the endorsements of the Nassau Republican, Conservative and Independence parties, and that of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Scaturro was a man without a party, but he petitioned his way onto the Republican primary ballot using the campaign experience and name recognition he had gained in two prior runs for McCarthy’s seat, in 2012 and 2010.

The two traded barbs over who is more truly conservative and who stood the best chance of beating the Democrats’ nominee in November. Both said they want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, reduce government spending and taxing, spur private-sector job growth, and they have criticized President Barack Obama’s record and that of congressional Democrats.

Rice, 49, of Garden City, became the first female district attorney in the county’s history after she won election in 2005. She was re-elected in 2009 and 2013. In 2010, she lost a campaign for state attorney general. Formerly, Rice was an assistant U.S. attorney in Philadelphia and an assistant district attorney in Brooklyn.

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