There were no apparent upsets in Capital Region state legislature races, and an apparent winner has emerged in the race for the 46th state Senate district race.
When Republican state Senator George Amedore announced his retirement, Michelle Hinchey, whose father was 10-term Congressman Maurice Hinchey, had already entered the race. Amedore threw his support behind a distant relative, Rich Amedure, for the state's newest Senate district, which includes parts of Albany, Schenectady and Ulster Counties, and all of Montgomery and Greene Counties. Amedure received 66,784 votes compared to Hinchey's 58,613 in unofficial results.
"We're happy where the numbers are right now but nothing's official. Waiting for every vote to be counted. That's the way the system works and they're gonna start the absentee ballots. When they do, once all the ballots come in, we will notify you if there's a declaration to be made."
In the 49th state Senate district, Democratic challenger Thearse McCalmon lost to Republican incumbent Jim Tedisco, who garnered 78,000 votes to McCalmon's nearly 38,000.
It validates what I've felt all along for a long period of time as a legislator. I love the job I do. I love the constituents, the voters, the residents of the 49th Senatorial district and I think the results show they love me. And very sweet for me because as an athlete at Union College, I had 19 wins one year. And I always wanted to win a 20th event, 20th victory, and this is my 20th election, my 20th win."
In the 44th district, Democratic Senator Neil Breslin defeated Republican challenger David Yule, taking 66 percent of the vote.
In the Capital Region's state Assembly districts, Democratic incumbents held onto their seats by wide margins: John McDonald in the 108th, Pat Fahy in the 109th and Phil Steck in the 110th. Fahy says election night was a "nail-biter" and she is happy she and her colleagues are returning to the capitol.
"Whether people agree with us or not, they know we work our hearts out to represent Albany as well as a large part of the Capital Region. So I think the emphasis on making sure we respond to COVID in a responsibly safe way while still advocating for small businesses, whether they're fitness centers or shopping malls or restaurants, I think that voters recognize that I'm doing my part to try to make sure we keep as many jobs as possible and try to work hard to get through this complete economic upheaval. So I feel good that my message is resonating, but the rest of the picture in the state as well as in the country, is a very disconcerting one."
In the 111th Assembly district, Democrat Angelo Santabarbara coasted against Republican challenger Paul DeLorenzo.
In the 112th district, Republican Mary Beth Walsh handily defeated Democrat Joe Seeman. The race between Democratic Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner and Republican Dave Catalfamo in the 113th district was too close to call.
Absentee ballots must be counted before final tallies are released.
