The nation watched on Tuesday Nov. 4 as the results of the midterm elections rolled in at 9 p.m. This election cycle handed control of Congress to the Republican Party. In New York State, voters decided to keep both Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Democratic United States Sen. Kirsten Gillibran in office. Cuomo only won 53.98 percent of the vote—far less than anticipated—with Republican challenger Rob Astorino getting 40.58 percent of the vote.
The Republican Party did manage to seize the New York State Senate, winning 32 of the 63 seats, thanks to a key victory by Rochester native Republican Rich Funke over Democratic New York Sen. Ted O’Brien in New York’s 55th State Senate district.
As for New York’s congresspeople in the House of Representatives, nine Republicans and 17 Democrats have been voted into office, with New York’s 25th congressional district still too close to make a projection. The 25th includes Rochester and many of the surrounding towns.
Democrat U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter is the incumbent and has been in office since 1987. As of Wednesday Nov. 5, she marginally led with 93,053 votes—50.16 percent—against her opponent Republican Mark Assini.
Assini has 92,471 votes—49.84 percent—placing him just less than 600 votes behind. With 100 percent of the ballots reported in, the district will likely see a recount.
Geneseo is represented by the 27th Congressional District, where Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Collins won in a landslide election with 71.69 percent of the vote against opponent Democrat James O’Donnell, who won 28.31 percent of the vote.
Buffalo falls in the 26th congressional district, where Democratic U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins defeated Republican challenger Kathleen Weppner with 68.85 percent of the vote.
In Livingston County, Republican Bill Nojay won his State Assembly position and Republican Catharine Young and Republican Pat Gallivan both won their State Senate races, all of which were unopposed.