All three statewide politicians hang on to their spots as several legislative politicians are also re elected during Tuesday’s midterm elections. However, the results hand control of the State and U.S. Senate over to the Republicans.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli were all re elected Tuesday with the majority of precincts reporting.
Cuomo beat Republican candidate Rob Astorino taking 54 percent of the votes earning a second term as New York State Governor. During his victory speech Cuomo promised a continued progressive agenda for the state during his second term.
“We said that New York is at its best when it acts like a family, honoring each other’s rights and responsibilities,” he said. “We said that what makes New York special is that while others are challenged by diversity, we celebrate it.”
Schneiderman took 55 percent of the votes in his race while DiNapoli took 60 percent of the vote.
In the State Assembly, Rodneyse Boichotte, Karim Camara, Latrice Walker, Keith Wright, Herman Farrell and Michael Blake all won their races. Former Brooklyn City Council Member Charles Barron is headed to Albany as he officially wins the Assembly seat previously occupied by his wife, Inez Barron, who took over his city council seat.
In the State Senate, Kevin Parker, John Sampson, Bill Perkins, and Ruth Thompson are all re elected. Running unopposed, former City Council Member Leroy Comrie is also headed to Albany to represent the 14th District in Queens in the senate after beating Malcolm Smith during the primaries. However, the politicians head upstate with Republicans in the majority which may prove to be difficult to press forward with progressive legislation.
Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel takes a victorious win as he’s elected to his 23rd term taking nearly 90 percent of the vote. Other winners in congressional races include Gregory Meeks, Hakeem Jeffries and Yvette Clark.
Republicans are now the majority in the U.S. Senate for the first time in eight years. Reports indicate that the GOP won seven states including West Virginia, Colorado and Iowa. The Republican Party will also have control of both chambers of Congress in January.