Incumbent Dems Hold the Line in NYS Senate Districts 35 and 37, Assembly 92
It was a late night for Tom Abinanti, New York State Assembly District 92, as unofficial vote tallies around midnight reported at 100 percent suddenly dropped the Democrat behind Republican challenger Mike Duffy.
Abinanti had been ahead by several percentage points all evening.
Saying there had to be a glitch in the reporting, related to the 100 percent of votes recorded, members of the Democrat Party and colleagues gathered at The Coliseum in White Plains considered the sudden change could be a reflection of votes made by Abinanti’s home-town, Mt. Pleasant, which is also home to gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino, a Republican.
It appeared, however, that the “glitch” was real and as the night wore on the 100 percent tally went from around a 12,000 total to 33,552, and Abinanti easily held his seat in the Assembly with 62 percent of the vote (20,765 votes) to Duffy’s 38 percent (12,787 votes).
Relieved, Abinanti said “We worked hard for this. We’re going to go back to the Assembly and work for economic equality and fairness.”
In the heated race in New York State Senate District 37 between incumbent Democrat George Latimer and Republican challenger Joe Dillon, the race was not called until the early hours this morning.
Latimer retained his seat with 53 percent of the vote (35,749) to Dillon’s 47 percent (32,175) of 67,924 total votes at the unofficial tally on Wednesday morning.
In an email, Latimer said: “Thanks to all who voted on Tuesday, and especially to those who gave me the opportunity to serve a second term in the State Senate. I will continue to work hard and to be accessible to listen to your advice and ideas.”
In the 35th Senate District, incumbent Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins easily took the vote with 73 percent (39,466 votes) to Republican challenger Robert Lopez Foti at 27 percent (14,526).
Foti, who it seemed had dropped out of the contest was missing in action all through the campaign debates. He did not have a website, hold meetings or in any other way communicate with the voting public. To have gained 14,526 of 53,992 votes just because his name was on the ballot, shows how many voters simply stay with their party line. One has to wonder if this candidate would have shown up for work had he won.
