Darcel Clark poised to win another term as DA

It was a solid battle, but Tess Cohen’s bid to become the next Bronx district attorney ended with Darcel Clark once again winning the Democratic nomination for the role on Primary Tuesday.

“I’m happy to be able to continue the work my office has done over the last eight years,” Clark told The Riverdale Press in a statement Tuesday night.

This primary marked the first time Clark faced a primary challenger as Bronx DA. Her predecessor, Robert Johnson, resigned in 2015 just one week after winning his primary. Clark stepped down as a judge after spending 16 years on the bench, and earned her nomination at the time by the Bronx Democratic Party.

She easily beat her Republican opponent in the general election and assumed office in 2016. With a primary win, Clark is expected to easily win re-election in November.

Clark received about 73 percent of the votes, according to unofficial election night results from the city elections board. Cohen received 27 percent.

Cohen had promised to steer an opposite direction if elected, working to prevent crimes and clean up many of the issues happening at Rikers Island.

“I’m incredibly proud of the campaign we’ve run,” Cohen said, in a statement. “Progressive victories don’t come easily, especially in the Bronx. But primaries are critical to a healthy democracy, and as we have seen here in New York, they can move members of the establishment towards justice and equity in significant ways. “

Clark previously said if elected again she would continue to use the office to fight for resources in the Bronx, and vowed to hold people accountable for violent crimes.

What comes next for Darcel Clark? She tells The Press that she will continue to work stopping violence in the community, and looking for more opportunities for children so they don’t commit crimes.

Clark also said she wants to find ways to make criminal defense more fair in the Bronx, and hopefully in the rest of the city, by example.