New York City Councilmember John Liu garnered 38% of the vote yesterday in his race for New York City Comptroller, barely missing the 40% necessary to avoid the Sept. 29th runoff. Here's a round-up of the news:

Liu and Yassky Headed for Runoff for New York City Comptroller (New York Times)

With 100 percent of the vote counted, unofficial results showed that Mr. Liu had captured 38 percent of the vote, just short of the 40 percent he needed to win outright. Mr. Yassky took 30 percent, and Councilwoman Melinda R. Katz of Queens finished third, with 20 percent. David I. Weprin, a councilman from Queens, was fourth.

The results set up a contest between two men who, over the course of the campaign, projected sharply different images to voters. Mr. Liu, a former actuary and an immigrant from Taiwan, struck a populist tone, from his home neighborhood of Flushing to Chinatown, where voters embraced him as a trailblazer, and Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, where several black leaders endorsed him.

Mr. Liu, who ran with the backing of several major labor unions, would become the first Asian American elected citywide if he prevails in a runoff on Sept. 29.

City Comptroller candidates face runoff (New York Post)

With neither candidate likely to get 40 percent, there would be a runoff on Sept. 29.

The Democrat who wins the primary for comptroller is heavily favored to win the general election since there is no strong Republican challenger.

Liu, Yassky headed to runoff for New York Comptroller (Times Union)

The city comptroller is the chief financial officer of the city, analyzing the budget and auditing city agencies. The comptroller is also in charge of the $80 billion municipal pension system.

Liu and Yassky were two of four Democrats competing.

And finally, here is an email that the Liu campaign sent out.

Dear Friend,

I'm truly grateful for all of your support and hard work since I
started my campaign for City Comptroller.

We had a strong showing yesterday in the Primary election for
Comptroller -- well ahead of our rivals with more than 38% of the
vote, but we did not quite reach the 40% plurality needed.  We're all
set for the run-off election on September 29th.

Our campaign is already building on our momentum -- today, we gained
the support of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Joint
Council 16 which represents more than 120,000 workers in the trucking,
sanitation, airline and pharmaceutical industries.

“It is my pleasure to announce on behalf of the more than 120,000
working men and women in the Teamsters Joint Council 16, our
endorsement of Councilman John Liu for New York City Comptroller,"
said Teamsters President George Miranda.  “Over the past eight years,
as a Councilman and Chair of the Transportation Committee, he has
consistently backed the interests of working people.  John’s financial
experience will make him a fine Comptroller, but his passion for
public service will make him the people’s watchdog in an era of
economic uncertainty. We look forward to doing all we can to make sure
that John becomes New York’s next Comptroller."

People are galvanized by the positive campaign we're running - a
campaign based on the issues that matter to working men and women and
families across the City.  People are excited about my vision for the
Office and plan to build on on City's infrastructure and protect the
pensions that people have worked their whole lives to accumulate.

The people of this City deserve an independent fiscal watchdog that
looks out for their interests, not the special interests.  I will be
an aggressive advocate for you...my campaign has always been about
you!

I will work hard over the next two weeks...and even harder for you
when I'm elected the next Comptroller.

Please join me... and help turn out the vote on September 29th.  And,
together, we will change the future of New York City.

Grateful for your support,

John Liu