Democrat Kaminsky Wins Ballot Count In NY Senate Race

Democrat Todd Kaminsky has emerged as the winner of a New York Senate race on Long Island, although Republican Chris McGrath still hasn’t conceded.

Election officials finished counting absentee ballots Friday and determined that Kaminsky won just over 50 percent of the vote and beat McGrath by some 862 votes. The vote must be certified before it is official.

“The results are as clear today as they were on election night: Todd Kaminsky was elected to a historic victory by the people of the South Shore,” said Kaminsky spokesman Evan Thies.

Kaminsky declared victory immediately after last month’s special election showed him ahead of McGrath by less than 800 votes. But McGrath refused to concede until some 3,000 absentee ballots could be counted. He also asked for election officials to recheck electronic voting machines.

E. O’Brien Murray, a spokesman for McGrath, issued a statement Friday seeking to tie Kaminsky to an investigation into campaign donations in key Senate races by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio aides and by groups linked to the mayor.

“Given the seriousness of the campaign finance issues and the potential criminality that has arisen regarding Todd Kaminsky’s campaign, we are continuing to review all options,” Murray said in the statement.

Potential next steps could include a petition for a full recount.

A Kaminsky win gives Democrats a one-seat Senate majority. Republicans will likely retain control thanks to support from six Democrats who broke with their party to support the GOP.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the May 2nd, 2016 edition of Hamodia.