Unlike two years ago, George Amedore emerged the clear winner on Election Day to represent the 46th Senate District, which he previously lost following a legal battle over ballots.
Amedore, R-Rotterdam, defeated incumbent Cecilia Tkaczyk, D-Duanesburg, on Tuesday, Nov. 4, following a heated rematch for the Senate seat Tkaczyk had won by a little more than a dozen votes. Amedore secured 54.8 percent of votes, totaling almost 50,700, while Tkaczyk fell behind, garnering 42.7 percent, or about 39,500 votes.
Amedore secured the majority of votes in four of the five counties in the 46th Senate District, which encompasses portions of Albany, Schenectady and Ulster counties, and all of Montgomery and Greene counties.
Amedore had more than 60 percent of the votes in Schenectady, Montgomery and Greene counties, while the only county Tkaczyk led in was Ulster, with 53 percent of votes.
“I want to start by thanking the residents of the 46th Senate District. Your voices were heard loud and clear: We are all ready for a change to get New York back on the right track,” Amedore said in a prepared statement. “Over the past seven months, I have traveled to every town in the five counties that make up this district to talk to the residents. I share your concerns and am heading to the Capitol with a clear vision of what needs to be done.”
The race was considered a battleground district for control of the state Senate, which the GOP gained the majority in following Election Day.
Supporters gathered at Tkaczyk’s campaign party on election night grew quiet as results started coming in and Amedore’s lead appeared to only be growing. Tkaczyk had not yet arrived to the party before Amedore declared victory.
Amedore jabbed Tkaczyk during his victory speech, remarking on the slim margin she defeated him by two years ago. Tkaczyk’s supporters watched a portion of his speech broadcasted on a local newscast.
“I see there was a few more people than 18 that went to the voting booth this year to make sure that we were going to declare victory the night of election and not wait four months,” said Amedore.
Not too long after Amedore’s speech, Tkaczyk walked into the party around 11:45 p.m. and delivered an emotional address to supporters on her defeat.
“This is a night we’ve all been waiting for, we’ve all been working hard for, and unfortunately, we don’t have the results we were hoping for,” said Tkaczyk. “I am so grateful to you all for believing and for working on these issues we fought so hard to bring into the forefront.”
She also said the fight for issues important to her campaign doesn’t end on Election Day.
“These issues don’t go away because I didn’t win tonight. These issues still have to be fought for,” said Tkaczyk. “I’m very sorry it is not what we hoped for tonight, but the issues remain.”
Tkaczyk did not commit to or rule out a possible bid to reclaim her seat.
Amedore said taxpayers need “real property tax relief” and he committed to voting against unfunded mandates that “kick the can down the road to the property taxpayers.” He said the Gap Elimination Adjustment, which has decreased state funding to schools, must be eliminated.
He also said the red tape that “strangles” businesses must be reduced to create economic opportunities.
“It’s time to get to work and restore the people’s faith in our government and get this state back on track,” Amedore said in a statement. “We need to do better. We deserve to do better. And now, we are going to do better.”
