NEW YORK—The swell of Democratic voters who came out to propel Senator Barack Obama to the White House on Tuesday apparently did their part in putting Democrats in New York State's Assembly and Senate as well. Democrats won a large majority of the seats in both houses, according to preliminary reports on Election night.
The only Republicans in both Houses are Assemblyman Lou Tobacco (Dist.66) and Senator Andrew Lanza (Dist.24).
Though the New York State Board of Elections says the final count could take two weeks to confirm, the wires and Board of Elections have called in some unofficial vote tallies. State election laws require a complete recanvass of all voting machines, valid absentee, affidavit, and military ballots before official results can be announced.
Based on information gathered by Gotham Gazette via wire services and the Board of Elections, it looks like between the two houses, Queens is getting a few new faces.
In the Senate, Council Member Hiram Monserrate challenged John Sabini earlier this year after Sabini was arrested for drunk driving. Joseph Addabbo gained 57 percent of the vote versus Republican Serphin Maltese's 43 percent. Addabbo is a Queens Council Member.
In the Assembly, attorney Grace Meng replaced Ellen Young for the 22nd District in Flushing, Queens. Young was accused by members of her constituency of voter fraud, including entering voting booths to “help” them vote. Meng was automatically selected for the position after her victory in the primaries in early September, as the Republicans did not slot a candidate.
Michael DenDekker replaced Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette on the ballot when the latter turned down reelection for a job with Governor David Paterson's administration. DenDekker did not have an opponent in his District 34.
Monserrate, Bronx Democratic Senators Pedro Espada Jr. and Ruben Diaz Sr., and Carl Kruger of Brooklyn, did not attend Wednesday's Democratic Senate meeting in Albany, leading political analysts to wonder if they are breaking with the majority leader Malcolm Smith.
Other Boroughs
In Staten Island, Democrat Michael McMahon beat out Republican Bob Straniere for an Assembly office formerly held by six-term incumbent Republican Vito Fossella, who after a drunk driving arrest in Virginia and confessions of fathering a child out of wedlock, decided not to run for reelection this year.
In Manhattan, 44th Assembly district incumbent Democrat James Brennan held on to his seat of 16 years in a race against Republican candidate Yvette Velazquez Bennett.
In the Bronx, Nelson Castro, like DenDekker, ran after the incumbent in his district took a job with the Governor. In August, Castro was charged with collecting unemployment checks while holding a part-time job. He was allowed to stay on the ballot although the Board of Elections found that ten others were listed in his supposed residence.
