Republican Reps. Tom Reed (R-Corning) and Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) both won their reelection races Tuesday, and John Katko (R-Camillus) holds a large lead over his Democratic Challenger Dana Balter with absentee ballots still to count.
Katko all but declared victory in the race for the 24th Congressional District late Tuesday. After results gave him a 55,000 vote lead over Balter, the three-term Congressman issued a statement saying “As the outstanding absentee ballots are counted in NY24, it’s clear our campaign has prevailed.”
There are approximately 70,000 absentee ballots to be counted in the four-county district. Those absentees returned so far run two-to-one in favor of Democrats, but Balter would have to take a large majority of those ballots in order to declare victory. Balter canceled a scheduled virtual news conference after all numbers came in. Her campaign said she would make a statement Wednesday. Counting of those absentee ballots begins next Monday in Onondaga County.
In the neighboring 22nd Congressional District, Republican Claudia Tenney also ended Election Day with a lead. Early voting and Election Day tallies give her an almost 28,000 vote lead over Democratic incumbent Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica). There are at least 68,000 absentee ballots to be counted in that district.
“I don’t think I can declare total victory, but it looks very strong,” Tenney told WSKG. “This has been an unusual year with an unusually high number of absentees. We’ll see where the absentees break.”
Brindisi is ready to be patient while these ballots are counted in all or parts of eight counties, stretching from the Southern Tier to the Mohawk Valley, to the eastern part of Oswego County.
“Two years ago, we did not know who won until nearly Thanksgiving. And given the number of ballots outstanding, we are ready to wait for the results to come in,” Brindisi said.
In the North Country’s 21st District, Stefanik defeated Democratic challenger Tedra Cobb by nearly 75,000 votes, nearly doubling her margin of victory against Cobb from two years ago.
“Do not ever stop fighting," Cobb said during a concession speech around midnight Wednesday. "We must hold those in positions of power accountable. We must remain good stewards of our communities, of our way of life and of one another.”
Reed also won his reelection race over Democrat Tracy Mitrano, winning by about 70,000 votes.
Get the latest results from races from around central and northern New York
