Democrats Win Majority of New York Congressional Seats

Twenty Democrats and six Republicans will head to Washington in January as New York’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the Associated Press.

A majority of those contests were settled rapidly on Election Day, as Democrats saw broad success against Republicans both statewide and across the country. The Associated Press required most of the week to finalize the outcome of several narrow competitions.

Democrats captured only a single seat, the 17th congressional district in the Hudson Valley, where Democrat Cait Conley defeated Rep. Mike Lawler. Although Lawler admitted defeat on election night, the reporting of results was delayed by pervasive technical issues with ballot-scanning equipment in Westchester County on Tuesday.

New York City’s congressional delegation will continue to include just one Republican. Representing Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis managed to defeat a Democratic bid by Mike DeCillis, who previously worked as a special education teacher and police officer.

The North Country hosted one of the tightest contests, with Republican Andrew Constantino, CEO of the custom printing firm Sticker Mule, narrowly defeating dairy farmer and Democrat Blake Gendebien. The seat was previously held by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who announced last year she was leaving public office after abandoning a bid for governor.

Long Island’s four congressional seats will continue to be held by two Democrats and two Republicans. Rep. Tom Suozzi and Rep. Laura Gillen were both re-elected as Democrats, while Republican incumbents Rep. Nicholas Lalota and Rep. Andrew Garbarino also won re-election.

Following Tuesday’s election, Democrats are projected to control the House by a margin of 254 to 162 seats, according to the Associated Press.

The winning candidates will be sworn into Congress on January 3.

Once county officials and the New York State Board of Elections certify the vote counts, the election outcomes in New York will be finalized.