The 21st Congressional District will continue to be represented by Democrats, a more than five-decade tradition with Paul Tonko’s Election Day victory. Tonko defeated Republican Jim Buhrmaster by a large margin, garnering 149,377 votes versus Buhrmaster’s 89,502. Phil Steck, who challenged Tonko in the Democratic primary, earned 7,214 votes on the Independence Party line.
Tonko will fill the seat to be vacated by Democrat Michael McNulty, who has held the position for 20 years and will be retiring in January.
Tonko ran on the Democratic and Working Families lines, with Buhrmaster on the GOP and Conservative lines in the district that contains all of Albany, Montgomery, Schenectady and Schoharie counties, as well as parts of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties.
I give him credit for involving us in the debates, said Josh Hills, Jim Buhrmaster’s spokesman, of Tonko.
The announcement of Tonko’s win came in around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, to a crowded room of supporters at Mallozzi’s Banquet House in Rotterdam.
`I’m flattered and moved by your show of support here. I look forward to serving the 21st Congressional District,` said Tonko. `I’m very proud that we ran a totally positive campaign. We didn’t resort to gimmicks or bashing anyone.`
Tonko touched on his plans for Congress, including focusing on the economy, bringing troops home from Iraq and universal health care. He said he hopes to use his background in engineering and energy to help solve national energy issues and spark local economy.
`It’s a personal sense of accomplishment. Paul Tonko is passionate about his community. He’ll help execute Barack Obama’s mandate. He reinforces that we can have good people in government,` said Shawn Chin-Chance, a Tonko volunteer.
Tonko, a Rotterdam native, represented the 105th District in the New York State Assembly, beginning in 1983, for nearly 25 years before leaving to become president and CEO of NYSERDA, where he worked until his resignation to run for U.S. Representative. He won the primary two months ago against four other Democratic candidates. The district has a majority of registered Democrats, totaling 163,929, and 110,482 registered Republicans. According to New York State’s Board of Elections, there are 398,873 registered voters in the district.
Buhrmaster, who is serving his second term as a Schenectady County legislator, owns a small business in Schenectady. He beat Steven Vazquez in the primaries.
`I am so happy for Paul and this whole district. He can work across party lines because of his personality,` said Terri Tuers, a Tonko supporter. `It’s great to see a scientist in the halls of Congress.`
Michael McNulty was standing by to offer his congratulations to Tonko.
`What a great thrill it has been to watch him. We couldn’t have a better representative than Paul Tonko,` said McNulty.
`I could not be more proud when I become a private citizen on Jan. 3,` said McNulty.
Tonko’s energy expertise was called upon in 2005 when he was asked by the U.S. Congress to testify before the subcommittee on Domestic Policy regarding the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Tonko’s accomplishments include the College Tuition Savings Program, as well as Timothy’s Law.
`Paul has been a really dedicated community servant for over 20 years,` said Susan Savage, Democratic chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature. `We’re so lucky to have him serving us in Congress. Paul is a perfect representative for the people of this district.`
Tonko will be sworn in Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C.“