In New York's Sept. 10 primary, Bill de Blasio and Joe Lhota won their respective parties' nominations for mayor. Both support full decriminalization of marijuana, but Republican Lhota would continue the city's unconstitutional stop and frisk policy.
De Blasio narrowly avoided a run-off, scoring the necessary 40%. His closest Democratic opponent Bill Thompson received 26%.
De Blasio will end stop and frisk. "That isn't a New York we can allow to continue," he said in his acceptance speech. "It's a risk that we as a city cannot afford to take." De Blasio will most likely replace Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who presided over an epidemic of marijuana arrests and illegal searches.
Since New York is predominately Democratic, de Blasio should easily defeat Lhota on Nov. 5, ushering in a new era of progressive leadership in the nation's most populous city after 12 years of Michael Bloomberg.
Update: De Blasio streaked to victory, defeating Lhota by nearly 50%.
