By EMILIA TEASDALE
GHENT—The Columbia County Board of Elections had unofficial vote totals late Tuesday night, November 5, posted on their website (elections.columbiacountyny.com). In the county race for the 19th Congressional District, Josh Riley (D,WF) defeated incumbent Marcus Molinaro (R,C). The Albany Times Union and the AP also announced that Mr. Riley won district wide, flipping the Republican seat. The 19th CD includes all of the county.
Incumbent Assemblyman Scott Bendett (R-107th) defeated Democratic challenger Chloe Pierce in both the county and district wide. The 107th Assembly District includes the northwest county towns of Ghent, Kinderhook, Stockport and Stuyvesant and part of Chatham.
Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-106th) was also reelected to her seat over Republican Stephan Krakower. The 106th AD covers parts of Columbia extending from New Lebanon and Chatham in the northeast corner south to Ancram and Gallatin, west to Clermont and northwest to the City of Hudson.
State Senator Michelle Hinchey (D-41st) defeated Patrick Sheehan (R,C) to be reelected. The 41st includes all of Columbia County.
The state proposition to amend the state constitution passed in the county and statewide. Several local propositions also passed, including a proposition in both Hudson and Greenport to increase funding for the Hudson Area Library.
The only ballot proposition that was defeated was in Stuyvesant asking to increase the term of office of the supervisor from two to four years.
There were local races, most of which were unopposed.
Results below are just for the county.
President and Vice President
Electors for Kamala D. Harris for President and Tim Walz for Vice President (D,WF)–19,472 (56.19%)
Electors for Donald J. Trump for President and JD Vance for Vice President (R,C)–14,690 (42.39%)
United States Senator
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D,WF)–20,406 (59.89%)
Michael D. Sapraicone (R,C)—13,456 (39.49%)
Diane Sare LaRouche—166 (0.49%)
Representative in Congress 19th
Josh Riley (D,WF)—19,084 (55.76%)
Marcus Molinaro (R,C)—15,105 (44.14%)
New York State Senator 41st
Michelle Hinchey (D,WF)—19,728 (58.18%)
Patrick Sheehan (R,C)—14,157 (41.75%)
106th Assembly District
Didi Barrett (D)—14,031 (61.36%)
Stephan L. Krakower (R,C)—8,782 (38.41%)
107th Assembly District
Chloe E. Pierce (D)—5,215 (48.94%)
Scott H. Bendett (R,C)—5,432 (50.98%)
Town Council (Unexpired Term – New Lebanon)
Susan Tipograph (D)–614 (46.76%)
Joanne E. Amlaw (R,C)—699 (53.24%)
Town Council (Copake)
William Morningstar (D)—1,305 (98.42%)
Town Justice (Austerlitz)
David Cassuto (D)—828 (98.92%)
Town Justice (Claverack)
Michael A. Cozzolino—1,946(98.58%)
Town Justice (New Lebanon)
Vote for 2
Monte Wasch (D)—682 (32.98%)
Lorrie Wechter (D)—781 (37.77%)
Kevin Smith, Sr. (R)—603 (29.16%)
Highway Superintendent (Chatham)
James Fetzer (D,R)—2,394 (99.67%)
City Court Judge (City of Hudson)
John Connor, Jr. (D,WF)—2,176 (99.63%)
Proposal One, an Amendment
Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy. A “YES” vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution. A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.
YES—20,170 (60.19%)
NO—13,341 (39.81%)
Proposition No. 1, Town of Canaan
Pursuant to Resolution 91-2024, shall the elective Office of Town of Canaan Tax Collector be abolished and established as an appointive Office with a term of office to begin on January 1, 2025?
YES—588 (57.82%)
NO—429 (42.18%)
Proposal Two, Town of Greenport
Vote for 1
Shall the resolution adopted by the Town of Greenport, County of Columbia, being a resolution extending the term of office of the Town Supervisor in the Town of Greenport from two (2) years to four (4) years, and the term of office of the Highway Superintendent from two (2) years to four (4) years be approved thereby changing the term of the Town Supervisor and the Highway Superintendent in the Town of Greenport for persons elected to that position and taking office on and after January 1, 2027?
YES—1,120 (56.91%)
NO—848 (43.09%)
Proposal Two, Town of Kinderhook
Shall the Town of Kinderhook increase its annual contribution for the operating budget of the Valatie Free Library by fifteen thousand nine hundred twenty dollars ($15,920) to the sum of one hundred fourteen thousand six hundred thirty dollars ($114,630) annually?
YES—2,911 (60%)
NO—1,941 (40%)
Proposal Two, Town of Stuyvesant
Shall Local Law No. 1, 2024, entitled a Local Law increasing the term of office of the Stuyvesant Supervisor from two to four years be approved to take effect in 2025?
YES—541 (48.83%)
NO—567 (51.17%)
Proposal Three, Town of Greenport
Shall the annual contribution of the Town of Greenport for the operating budget of the Hudson Area Association Library be increased from $85,000 to $95,000 annually?
YES—1,173 (60.09%)
NO—779 (39.91%)
Proposal Two, City of Hudson
Shall the annual contribution of the City of Hudson for the operating budget of the Hudson Area Association Library increase from $350,000 to $400,000?
YES—1,854 (76.96%)
NO—555 (23.04%)
