By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-07 14:46:12 | Updated at 2024-12-23 11:01:16
2 weeks ago
Rather than voting to put more turn-em-loose jurists on the bench, many New Yorkers cast write-in ballots on Election Day for a born judge - Yankees star Aaron Judge.
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He hit one out of the ballot box.
Bronx Bomber Aaron Judge scored 63 write-in votes in last month’s general election in local judicial races, newly-certified NYC Board of Elections records show.
“Given the state of our judiciary, I don’t think having Aaron Judge on the bench is the worst idea,” quipped NYC Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island), referring to many NYC jurists’ let-em-loose ways.
Judge’s write-in support for the state judgeships was only surpassed by a select few, including President-elect Donald Trump and Mickey Mouse.
Trump got 331 votes without expressing interest in being on the other side of the courtroom. Mickey got 76, while while rival Donald Duck racked up 34 write-in votes.
NYC judicial races are backroom party politics at their worst with the winners historically decided by party leaders during conventions held months before Election Day — and not by voters, critics say.
Democratic nominees usually run unopposed for nearly every seat, because Republicans are vastly outnumbered in NYC and don’t bother challenging. This usually leads to voter apathy– or hijinks.
Others who scored votes included the dead — like Gov. Mario Cuomo. Bruce Wayne (also known as Batman) and Jesus Christ also garnered votes.
“Why Aaron Judge for judge? These are protest votes,” said Hank Sheinkopf, a longtime Democratic consultant. “Voters aren’t happy that the choices are being taken away from them, and many also aren’t happy with the judges picked for them, so they take out their frustrations in ways that are humorous.”
New York baseball players batted 1.000 when it came to getting votes in congressional races — with Yankees superstar Juan Soto, and Mets sluggers Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor among the write-ins.
Far-left “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx/Queens) easily won re-election last month, but some voters preferred the likes of Mickey Mouse, who got six write-in votes, and Taylor Swift and Elmer Fudd, who got two each.
Unlike local races, the Board of Elections doesn’t count – or even document — write-in votes for presidential candidates.
