Politics & Government

The Results: State-Wide Races

A breakdown of how the candidates fared in the five major state races.

The polls in New York have closed, and the ballots have been counted. Here's a breakdown of the five major state-wide races that have .

In the governor's race, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo defeated Republican candidate and Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino.

During his victory speech, Cuomo focused on the difficulties that lay ahead, and the importance of New Yorkers standing united if they intend to overcome them.

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"Yes we have challenges, yes we have to clean up Albany, yes we have to get the economy running," he said. "We have to rebuild trust with the people. We are going to do all that because we faced worse before."

Paladino, who defeated former U.S. Congressman Rick Lazio in the Republican Primary, gave his concession speech wielding a bat, which he used as a metaphor throughout his campaign.

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"I promised to bring a baseball bat to Albany. Well here it is," he said. "I have a message for Andrew Cuomo our next governor: grab the handle and bring the people with you."

However, the fervor Paladino embodied from the beginning of his campaign until its final moments was not enough to propel him to victory, as Cuomo won by a wide margin.

Governor Pct.  
Andrew Cuomo (D) 61.28% Carl Paladino (R) 34.18%

In one of New York's two U.S. Senate races, incumbent Democrat Chuck Schumer took on Republican Jay Townsend, a businessman from Cornwall-on-Hudson. Schumer, considered the overwhelming favorite headed into the election, easily secured his third term.

U.S. Senate Pct.  
Chuck Schumer (D) 65.8% Jay Townsend (R) 32.55%

In New York's special Senate election to fill the seat formerly occupied by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Republican and former U.S. Congressman Joseph DioGuardi challenged Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to replace Clinton part way through her term.

Like her colleague in the Senate Chuck Schumer, Gillibrand retained her seat easily.

U.S. Senate Pct.   
Kirsten Gillibrand (D) 61.64% Joseph DioGuardi (R) 36.04%

In the race for New York Attorney General, Democratic State Senator Eric Schneiderman faced a tough election battle against Staten Island District Attorney and Republican candidate Dan Donovan.

After what was a competitive campaign, Schneiderman emerged the victor.

Attorney General Pct.     Eric Schneiderman (D) 55.52% Dan Donovan (R) 43.08%

Incumbent Democrat Thomas DiNapoli faced a fierce challenge from Republican and former financial executive Harry Wilson in the race for State Comptroller.

After a long night of tallying votes, the race was called for DiNapoli early Wednesday morning.

Comptroller Pct.   
Thomas DiNapoli (D) 50.11% Harry Wilson (R) 46.73%

Source: New York 1

Ed. Note: All election returns are subject to verification by the New York State Board of Elections.


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