Democratic Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky has defeated 𝔍Rep🔜ublican Chris McGrath by just 780 votes out of 68,004 cast in Tuesday’s special election to replace Dean Skelos, according to unofficial data.
The former federal prosecutor, who ran on a platfor💎m of cleaning up Albany, has claimed the Long Island state once held by the former majority leader c🧔onvicted of corruption.
There are about 3,000 absentee ballots yet to be count💛ed in the ninth senatorial district covering towns in south Nassau, but Nassau Republican Chairman Joe Mondello all but conceded the race Wednesday, saying it’s unlikely that the ouওtcome will change.
“It’s a significant number to overturn. At the risk of being wrong — I hope I’m wrong — Mr. Kaminsky won,” Mondello sa🐎id.
Skelos was convicted in a pay-to-play scam along with his son, Adam, and was♛ b𒅌ooted from office. He is awaiting sentencing.
Mondello said Sꦡkelos’ conviction “really hurt” McGrath and the GOP’s chances of kee𒅌ping the seat.
Mondello also said that the Democratic presidential primary — held the same day — helped energize blacks and other Democrats to heads ๊to the polls.
The GOP still maintains a slim 3💖2-31 majority in the Senate, thanks to the support of renegade Democrat Simcha Felder as well as a deal with five other indဣependent Democrats.