Here are some sources for results in various closely-watched races:
* GIBSON vs. ELDRIDGE (NY-19 Congressional race)
The Poughkeepsie Journal is reporting around 11 pm that Eldridge has conceded.
- The New York Times has Gibson ahead 65%-35% as of 11:15 pm, with about half of election precincts reporting—a whopping 30% lead. The Eldridge campaign had recently claimed that its polling showed it was “only” 10% down.
- The Times’ raw vote total is 124,428 for Gibson, 67,024 for Eldridge, a more than 57,000-vote difference.
- To put that in perspective, in 2012 Gibson received 138,657 (53%) and his opponent Julian Schreibman garnered 120,661 (47%). In other words: Fewer people voted in this cycle than the last—a Presidential year. Gibson actually got some 14,000 fewer votes than last time, yet increased his margin of victory by nearly 40,000, because Eldridge got 53,000 fewer votes than his Democratic predecessor, losing by substantially more than Schreibman (-30% vs. -6%).
* BARRETT vs. KELSEY (106th Assembly race)
On Facebook and in a statement released to the media, Didi Barrett is declaring victory, saying that “I am very pleased that I will continue to represent the people of the 106th Assembly District. We look forward to adding to our victory with the counting of the absentee ballots.”
- Also on Facebook, Mike Kelsey says “I am down by 79 votes. This race will be decided by absentee ballots. Stay tuned in the weeks to come.”
- A source close to the Columbia County BOE claims that Barrett won the whole district by 137 votes, going into the absentee count. The New York Times shows the same lead with 100% reporting.
- A source close the the Barrett campaign claims that the absentee ballots break down roughly 2-to-1 Democrats to Republicans, but that the Kelsey campaign is vowing a stiff counting fight.
- This race has switched leaders multiple times as the count wore on, and due to the margin of victory cannot be called until absentee ballots come in and get counted over the two weeks or so... which likely means a hotly-contested counting process ensues. Generally, however, Democrats in our area have prevailed among absentee voters. So assuming Barrett has a lead going into that count, her confidence of prevailing seems warranted.
- Albany Times-Union results
* SWARTZ vs. SAMMONS (Taghkanic Town Board)
- A well-informed Taghkanic source predicts Swartz will be the winner. Sammons won on the machines, the source says, by 9 votes (241-232). But 70 out of the estimated 119 absentee ballots are believed to be for Swartz, according to Democratic estimates. If correct, that 49-vote absentee edge would erase Sammons’ lead and make her the winner.
- Bizarrely, the T-U has very different numbers: 311 for Sammons, 232 for Swartz... which would put the race out of the reach of absentees. A poll worker further believes the T-U numbers are incorrect, as fewer than 480 people reportedly voted today. A source close the the Columbia County Board of Elections indicates the same 241-232 numbers were reported there.
- For the second time in a week, The Register-Star slimes Swartz—prematurely declaring her the loser, not recognizing that absentee votes have consistently decided close races in Taghkanic for almost a decade now. Last week, the paper incorrectly reported that Sammons was running unopposed, as if to erase Swartz’s candidacy.
* MARCHIONE vs. HOWARD (43rd State Senate race)
- With about 80% of the vote in, Marchione is a 2-to-1 leader over Brian “A+” Howard.
* GREENPORT HIGHWAY PROPOSAL
- With three of three precincts reporting, it looks like the proposal will fail to make the Highway Superintendant’s position appointed rather than elected. The tally is now about 596-513 against the resolution.
- Albany Times-Union results
* OTHER CONTESTS OF NOTE
- The Poughkeepsie Journal is calling the the 41st Senate seat for Serino over Gipson as of 11:15 pm.
- Amedore is beating Tkaczyk 4-to-3 in the 46th Senate District.
- Stanzione is far ahead of Salvino for Greene County D.A.
- The Times shows all three Statewide ballot measures passing handily as of 11 pm.
- Incumbent NYS A.G. Schneiderman appears to be far ahead of former Pataki aide John Cahill.
* ADDITIONAL ONLINE ELECTION RESOURCES