A winner can’t be declared in the newly drawn 46th Senate District until absentee ballots are counted, as a slim margin separated the two candidates on election night.
Cecilia Tkaczyk, D-Duanesburg, declared victory over George Amedore, R-Rotterdam, shortly after unofficial results put her ahead by 139 votes. Tkaczyk had 58,314 votes and Amedore had 58,175.
Tkaczyk said once all the ballots are counts, she expects her margin to grow.
“I am up in the numbers and I am declaring victory,” Tkaczyk said. “I think when all the ballots are collected I will be the victor.”
Amedore’s campaign, however, is buckling down for a long battle to be fought in boards of elections and courtrooms.
“This morning (Wednesday, Nov. 7), we filed a show cause order in Montgomery County Supreme Court to protect and substantiate each and every ballot,” said Kris Thompson, a spokesman for Amedore, in a statement. “We must institute safeguards to protect every vote in this process, which may take considerable time.”
Thompson said Amedore’s campaign “implemented an ambitious absentee program.” He was confidant once all the ballots are counted that Amedore would emerge victorious.
“We will proceed with patience and confidence as this process moves forward,” Thompson said.
On election night, as votes started to roll in, the lead swayed between both candidates, with Amedore reportedly expressing confidence early on. Tkaczyk said it was a long night, but at the end she clung excitedly to her lead, however slight.
“It has been pins and needles and I am ecstatic that I at the end of a very long day won,” she said. “You only need one vote to win.”
Amedore, after casting his ballot at Schalmont High School earlier in the day, said he was optimistic that voters would continue to support him after leaving his Assembly seat to pursue the larger Senate district.
“I am so proud of my campaign team,” Amedore said.
Amedore said his focus is getting “government off our backs and out of our pockets.” Creating a confidence in the private sector, he said, is important to create jobs in the region. He said investing in education would also help businesses to have their workforces come from local talent.
Amedore said his experience as a small business owner sets himself apart from Tkaczyk. Amedore said for five years he has also worked in a bipartisan manner with fellow state legislators.
Tkaczyk said her message was what voters wanted to hear and they wanted someone who would fight for issues important to them. She said the election results show, despite the district being crafted for Amedore’s bid, her message ran true.
“It says voters want government to work for the people, not big donors and special interests,” Tkaczyk said.
The campaign became more heated as Election Day neared, with advertisements from political action committees dealing the harshest words about each candidate. Each candidate pointed to campaign contributions as points of contention.
Tkaczyk said she stood behind her campaign and pointed out Amedore’s voting record and statements.
Amedore’s strongest support was in Montgomery County, which he currently represents in his Assembly district. Amedore held 10,178 votes and Tkaczyk trailed with 5,842 votes. Amedore also took the majority of votes in Schenectady County, with 59 percent of the vote, and in Greene County he had a lead of almost 3,000 votes.
Tkaczyk received overwhelming support in Ulster County with 22,800 votes and Amedore garnered around 14,600 votes. Tkaczyk also prevailed in Albany County with around 15,300 votes, or 54 percent of the total.