Two incumbent New York state Senators who broke with the Republican party over last year’s same-sex marriage vote woke up this morning unsure of whether they would survive Thursday’s close primary.
Two-term Senator Roy McDonald’s race against Saratoga County clerk Kathleen Marchione is too close to call and likely will be decided by absentee ballots. The same is true for the race between Hudson Valley Senator Stephen Saland and Neil DiCarlo, putting Saland’s 22-year Senate career in jeopardy. But Senator Mark Gristanti of Buffalo, who also voted for gay marriage, coasted to victory over challenger Kevin Stocker.
Elsewhere, Albany-area Senator Neil Breslin cruised past Albany County Legislature Chair Shawn Morse in the Democratic primary, and Cecilia Tkaczyk won the three-way Democratic race in the new 46th Senate district to face GOP Assemblyman George Amedore in November.
Patricia Fahy has won the six-person 109th Assembly district race. Cohoes Mayor John McDonald beat Albany Common Council President Carolyn McLaughlin in his bid to succeed Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari in the 108th. Phil Steck has won the four-way Democratic race in the 110th Assembly district.
And Albany County District Attorney David Soares won a bruising primary over challenger Lee Kindlon, virtually assuring him of a third term.
