GHENT—The results are still unofficial from Tuesday’s midterm election. In Columbia County alone there remain “several hundred” absentee and so-called “affidavit” ballots yet to be counted.
County voters chose Democratic candidates for state and federal office. That was true in the race for Congress in the newly redrawn 19th Congressional District, which includes all of this county. But in that contest, Republican Marcus Molinaro has claimed victory, saying in a release, “I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
His opponent, Josh Riley (D), has not conceded. “We want to be sure every voice is heard, and we are going to do that,” Mr. Riley said in a press release issued November 9.
Governor Kathy Hochul and her running mate, Antonio Delgado, polled well in Columbia County as did a slate of Democratic candidates, including state Attorney General Letitia James and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, state Senator Michelle Hinchey (41st SD) and Assemblymember Didi Barrett (106th AD).
There were local elections or write-in candidates in several towns (see county data).
It was a good election for ballot proposals: All five library funding propositions were approved; the state $4.2 billion climate change bond was adopted here and statewide; Hudson will redistrict city wards; only the New Lebanon proposal to switch to an appointed highway supervisor failed to pass.
Unofficial General Election results for Columbia County from the County Board of Elections (11:16 p.m. on November 8)
At that time, several hundred absentee and affidavit ballots remain to be counted
Governor & Lieutenant Governor
Kathy Hochul & Antonio Delgado 15,613
Lee Zeldin & Alison Esposito 13,438
NYS Comptroller
Thomas DiNapoli (DEM, WOR) 17,056
Paul Rodriguez (REP, CON) 11,668
NYS Attorney General
Letitia James (DEM, WOR) 15,948
Michael Henry (REP, CON) 12,850
U.S. Senator
Charles Schumer (DEM, WOR) 16,287
Joe Pinion (REP, CON) 12,472
Diane Sare (LAR) 77
Representative in U.S. Congress (19th C.D.)
Josh Riley (DEM, WOR) 15,598
Marcus Molinaro (REP, CON) 13,263
NY Supreme Court Justice, 3rd Jud. District (3 elected)
Heidi Thais Cochrane (DEM, WOR) 14,892
Sharon Graff (DEM, WOR) 14,678
Meaghan Galligan (DEM, WOR) 14,589
Thomas Marcelle (REP, CON) 13,491
NY State Senator (41st S.D.)
Michelle Hinchey (DEM, WOR) 15,438
Susan Serino (REP, CON, IND) 13,285
Member of Assembly (106th A.D.)
Didi Barrett (DEM) 11,228
Brandon Craig Gaylord (REP, CON) 8,132
Member of Assembly (107th A.D.)
Scott Bendett (REP, CON) 5,752
County Clerk
Holly Tanner (REP, CON) 17,939
County Coroner (2 elected)
Michael Blasl (REP, CON) 17,308
Write-in 1,436
Hudson – Member of Common Council (3rd Ward)
Amber Harris (DEM) 341
Ancram – Town Justice (2 elected)
Catherine Redlich (DEM, REP) 631
Suzan Flamm (DEM) 380
Richard Novik (REP) 371
Austerlitz – Town Council
Christopher Schober (DEM) 703
Claverack – Town Justice
Michael H. Brandon (REP) 1,660
Kinderhook – Town Council
George J. Graham (REP, CON) 2,788
Livingston – Town Council
Fred Conte (Write-in) 257
James Kelly (Write-in) 152
Stockport – Town Justice
Malcolm G. Smalley (REP, CON) 746
Taghkanic – Town Justice
Robert Prochera (REP, CON) 327
New York State Prop 1 (Environmental Bond Act)
Yes 17,551
No 10,194
New Lebanon – Prop 1 (Highway Superintendent)
Yes 449
No 595
Hudson – Prop 1 (Ward Boundaries)
Yes 1,328
No 383
Hudson – Prop 2 (Library Funding)
Yes 1,442
No 387
Claverack – Prop 1 (Library Funding)
Yes 1,656
No 907
Kinderhook – Prop 1 (Library Funding)
Yes 2,546
No 1,621
Chatham – Prop 1 (Library Funding)
Yes 1,690
No 539
Germantown – Prop 1 (Library Funding)
Yes 666
No 321