Democrat Murphy Wins New York House Seat as Rival Concedes Close Race

[KittyWampus]

Democrat Murphy Wins New York House Seat as Rival Concedes Close Race

Source: CQ Politics
By Emily Cadei, CQ Staff – Fri Apr 24, 5:12 pm ET


Democratic businessman Scott Murphy clinched victory over Republican state lawmaker Jim Tedisco Friday afternoon in the special House election held March 31 in New York's 20th Congressional District. Tedisco conceded the race in a phone call to Murphy, whose razor-thin lead in an election night canvass expanded to hundreds of votes after a protracted counting process that took almost a month to resolve.

Murphy's win keeps the upstate New York seat, until recently a Republican stronghold, in Democratic Party hands. He will succeed Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed in January to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy created when Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton was confirmed as President Obama's secretary of State. Gillibrand had been re-elected last November for a second term in the 20th District seat.

Tedisco, who stepped down as leader of the Republican minority in the state Assembly shortly after the April 7 election, also issued a press release congratulating Murphy.

"Earlier today, I called and congratulated Scott Murphy on a hard-fought contest and wished him well as the next Congressman of the 20th Congressional District," Tedisco said.
He added, "This was a close campaign every step of the way. Ultimately, it became clear that the numbers were not going our way and that the time had come to step aside and ensure that the next congressman be seated as quickly as possible

[geckosfeet]

1. Norm? Are you watching?