SCOTIA -- Republican Assemblyman George Amedore declared victory in the race for the new 46th District Senate seat, but his Democratic opponent may have eked out a victory after all. WAMC’s Ian Pickus reports.
Amedore appeared headed to the upper chamber in the New York state Legislature after leading with 54 percent of the vote nearly three hours after polls closed Tuesday night, but Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk, a Duanesberg school board member, claimed victory too.
Tkaczyk appeared to be leading by 139 votes with all precincts reporting early this morning in a race that already seems headed for a recount. Earlier, Amedore thanked his family and supporters at a campaign party in Scotia.
“The night is not over,” Amedore said. “We are still counting all of the votes out there and we feel confident that we are the strong winner.”
The celebration might be on hold for Amedore, who had represented the 105th District in the Assembly since winning a special election in 2007. When Republicans in charge of the state Senate drew a 63rd seat in the latest round of redistricting, many observers saw it as tailor-made for the Rotterdam-based builder.
But the race against Tkaczyk was closer than expected, with late polling showing Amedore ahead by just three points. That polling now looks prescient.
