Andrew Cuomo Defeats Cynthia Nixon in N.Y. Gubernatorial Primary

Education activist, actress, and political candidate Cynthia Nixon fought hard to win the Democratic nomination for New York governor but came up shorthanded against incumbent Andrew Cuomo, The New York Times reports.

With almost all the votes counted, Cuomo carried 66 percent of the electorate to Nixon's 34 percent.

Nixon's run for governor was seen as a long shot, but she did attract a large following of young and liberal New Yorkers to her cause. Nixon championed health care for all, legalized marijuana, an end to mass incarceration, and taxing the rich to pay for New York City's ailing subway system.

Viewed as a moderate Democrat, Cuomo was pulled to the left on issues because of Nixon's stances. Both candidates have strong records on LGBTQ issues; Nixon identifies as bisexual herself and is married to fellow public education advocate Christine Marinoni.

Cuomo, first elected governor in 2010, now advances to the general election in November and is widely expected to win a third term, running against Republican Marc Molinaro and several minor-party candidates.

On Twitter, Nixon encouraged her supporters not to be disheartened.

And at Cafe Omar in Brooklyn, she delivered a defiant concession speech.

"Before a single vote was cast, we have already won. We have fundamentally changed the political landscape in this state," she said. "This campaign changed expectations about what is possible in New York State."

She added, "This is more than a campaign, this is a movement.And the movement that we are building isn't just about one candidate or one election, it is about offering a vision of the way things could work if only we have the leadership the political courage to make it a reality. This race for the Democratic nomination may be over, but the fight for the soul of the Democratic Party is just beginning. Because before we can take our country back, we have to take our party back."

Watch her speech below.