Borough primary contests ripe for upsets

Embattled Rep. Eliot Engel’s tough primary reelection battle against lefty insurgent Jamaal Bowman in the Bronx-Westchester 16th Congressional District has garnered the most attention, but political insiders say there are other local primaries that could yield upsets next Tuesday.

In Brooklyn’s 9th CD, veteran Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke faces off in a rematch against Adem Bunkeddeko, who captured 48 percent of the primary vote in 2018.

But this year, there are two other candidates — City Councilman Chaim Deutsch, who could attract a sizable portion of the Jewish vote, and democratic socialist Army veteran Isaiah James.

Meanwhile, in Brooklyn Assembly District 51, veteran incumbent Felix Ortiz faces several challengers — including Marcela Mitaynes, who is backed by lefty firebrand Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Socialists of America.

In Queens Assembly District 34, which includes the neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, Woodside, Corona, Elmhurst and Maspeth that were hit hard by the coronavirus, incumbent Michael DenDekker has four opponents — including Working Families Party-backed Jessica González-Rojas.

In Queens AD 38, which includes Ridgewood, Glendale, Woodhaven, Ozone Park and Richmond Hill, incumbent Michael Miller faces off against Jenifer Rajkumar and Joseph De Jesus. Rajkumar needs to consolidate the growing southAsian vote to pull off an upset.