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New York's 22nd Congressional District includes all of Chenango, Cortland, Madison and Oneida counties and parts of Broome, Herkimer, Tioga and Oswego counties.0000017a-3c50-d913-abfe-bd54a86b0000Incumbent Richard Hanna (R-Barneveld) has announced he will retire. Claudia Tenney (R), New York state assemblywoman; Democrat Kim Myers; and Martin Babinec, a member of the Reform and Upstate Jobs parties will face off in November.It should also be noted that the retiring Hanna has not put his support behind fellow Republican Claudia Tenney.

Brindisi leads, Tenney won't concede in 22nd Congressional District race that's too close to call

Tom Magnarelli
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WRVO News (file photo)
Democrat Anthony Brindisi gives a victory speech. He's up by 1,400 votes.

In a race too close to call between incumbent Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-New Hartford) and her Democratic opponent Anthony Brindisi, Brindisi has the lead by 1,400 votes. But there could be more than 10,000 absentee ballots in the 22nd Congressional District. 

Brindisi said he was relieved after news organizations started calling the election for him and he said he feels comfortable going forward.

“We want every vote to be counted, and they’ll be counted," Brindisi said. "But we’re pretty confident they’re going to break the same way current vote totals go.”

Republicans had an enrollment advantage in the district, but Brindisi said he was able to pull ahead with a message of lifting people up, rather than dividing them.

“I think people in this district are looking for someone who is not afraid to reach across the aisle and try and bring Democrats and Republicans together," Brindisi said. "I think not taking any corporate PAC money has helped, showing that we can go to Washington representing the interest of the people in this region, not worrying about the big special interest groups that are funding campaigns out there.”

Credit Samuel Northrup / WRVO Public Media
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WRVO Public Media
Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-New Hartford) talks to supporters after Election Night results.

Tenney encouraged her supporters to be hopeful as absentee ballots are counted.        

“It’s a sad day that we’re not up in this race right now, it’s a bummer," Tenney said. "I’m not going to concede. There’s going to be a recanvass.” 

She said her team will participate in the recanvass process and review absentee ballots.

“We’re very, very close," Tenney said. "We knew it was going to be a close race against impossible odds. But hang in there, be hopeful, be positive, don’t walk out with your heads down. This is just another day, another battle. The war is still on.”

Tenney has embraced President Donald Trump and his family throughout her campaign. She said she is worried a Democratic controlled House of Representatives will create chaos and roll back the progress made on the economy.

The 22nd Congressional District stretches across eight counties and includes the cities of Utica and Binghamton.

Tom Magnarelli is a reporter covering the central New York and Syracuse area. He joined WRVO as a freelance reporter in 2012 while a student at Syracuse University and was hired full time in 2015. He has reported extensively on politics, education, arts and culture and other issues around central New York.