The Hudson Valley is home to at least three closely-watched races. With polls in New York closing in less than three hours, some races may not be decided tonight if polls and pundits can be trusted.
In the 18th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney voted in Cold Spring, in Putnam County, along with his husband.
“I feel great about the campaign that we’ve run talking about how to rebuild our middle class, how to do it together so everybody shares in robust, broadly-felt prosperity,” Maloney says. “And today’s a good day and I’m looking forward to a great victory tonight.”
Meanwhile, his predecessor, Republican Nan Hayworth, cast her ballot in Bedford Hills, in Westchester County. According to a Siena College poll released October 31, Hayworth trails by five points. She speaks to what is different for her this time around.
“I’ve spent the past two years listening to folks in the Hudson Valley and the friendships deepen with every passing year,” says Hayworth. “So it’s just a wonderful feeling to hold their thoughts and the challenges that they face in my heart as I seek to serve them in Congress.”
Good weather boded well for voter turnout, but Maloney says there is something else on his side.
“I think the record of results is on my side. Two years ago we had the same contest and we had a bunch of ideas and a bunch of things that I said I wanted to do. Now people can judge me on what I’ve done,” says Maloney. “And I’m very proud that I’ve passed 13 bipartisan bills and I’m proud that they’re focused on the middle class, on our infrastructure, on creating jobs, helping our farmers, and building this economy again from the center out, and doing it in a bipartisan way, cooperating, being civil, being thoughtful about good ideas that might come from the other side. That’s the kind of formula for success. That’s what I mean when I say I’m a Clinton Democrat .”
Meanwhile, judges ordered voting machines impounded in the 18th district, once the polls close, heeding a petition from the Maloney campaign. The district includes parts of Dutchess and Westchester Counties and all of Orange and Putnam Counties. Hayworth says she is prepared that the race may not be decided tonight, possibly hinging on recounts and absentee ballots.
“Folks are really excited about making a change so I’m very hopeful that, close or not, the election will go the way we hope it will and we’ll have new representation in Congress,” says Hayworth. “And I’d be privileged to be our member of Congress.”
Judges also approved the petitions from Democrats in two state Senate races. In Westchester, voting machines in the 40th District will be impounded, per a petition from Democrat Justin Wagner. He’s back after he was defeated by Republican Greg Ball in 2012. Yorktown Councilman Terrence Murphy is the Republican running for a seat that could swing either way and in a race that has seen its share of polemical debates and incendiary mailers. Wagner says his campaign approach differed once Ball announced he would not seek re-election.
“When you’re running in an open seat I think you get to have more of an open discussion about your ideas and vision as opposed to running against someone else’s record, so I’ve enjoyed an open seat,” says Wagner. “We’ve put forward what I think are a bunch of substantive ideas and I think the voters are going to reward that today.”
Murphy says voters take to heart his integrity and experience.
“I’ve tried keeping everything above the water with regards to this campaign and I’m very proud the way we ran our campaign,” says Murphy. “It was very long, it was enduring, it was hard, like you said, it was one of the most watched campaigns in New York State.”
Another close race is in the 41st Senate district, pitting incumbent Democrat Terry Gipson against Republican Sue Serino. The outcome of these state Senate races, as well as the 46th district race, could determine whether Democrats or Republicans have the majority.
