Manhattan has a new DA.
Former defense lawyer Cy Vance Jr. won the Democratic primary tonight in the hotly-contested race for Manhattan District Attorney, defeating former judge Leslie Crocker Snyder and Richard Aborn.
The current DA — 90-year-old Robert Morgenthau who announced his retirement earlier this year after 35 years in office — had thrown his support behind Vance.
“I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart,” Vance told supporters, which included Morgenthau and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum.
With 91 percent of precincts reporting, Vance had 44 percent of the vote. Crocker Snyder had 30 percent and Aborn, a gun control advocate, finished third with just 26 percent.
Morgenthau said with Vance in office, Manhattan’s residents are “assured of effective leadership” in the DA’s office.
Since there is no Republican on the ballot in November, Vance’s victory essentially makes him the borough’s next DA.
Aborn, who has secured the Working Families Party nomination, will be on the ballot in November.
Vance is the son of former Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance.