Post-Election Round-up

As of Wednesday morning in the 37th District New York Senate race, Suzi Oppenheimer and Bob Cohen are in a dead heat. The Westchester County election results show each with a 50% share of the vote, with Oppenheimer leading with 33,272 votes over Cohen’s 33,092. This will likely be decided by a recount and absentee ballots. My quick and dirty analysis: Oppenheimer’s attacks on Cohen as a “slumlord” backfired. But at the same time — Democrats prevailed due to Cuomo at the top of the ticket against a Republican candidate most found patently objectionable on any level.

Cohen’s supporters met at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains on election night where the mood was hopeful but subdued. As the results came in, Cohen was maintaining a 2% lead over Oppenheimer, splitting the vote 51% to 49%. However the count narrowed overnight and now neither candidate can claim a victory. County Executive Rob Astorino came to the Crowne Plaza and predicted a win for

the Republican Scarsdale real estate executive, saying that a Cohen victory would be the result of Democrats crossing party lines and Independents voting for Cohen to send a message to Albany to rein in spending and taxes.

 

Incumbent Amy Paulin scored a big win over Republican challenger Rene Atayan for the 88th State Assembly seat. Results show 62% for Paulin of Scarsdale vs. 38% for Bronxville’s Atayan. Paulin supporters gathered at Chat American Bistro on election night and the mood was happy and relaxed as Paulin maintained a strong lead all night.

Only an analysis of the data will show what really happened — but the lack of any viable Republicans at the top of the ticket — could be a factor that actually saves Oppenheimer from defeat — and clearly played a role in Scarsdale’s Harry Wilson’s defeat by Tom DiNapoli in the State Comptroller’s race. Wilson was quite successful in getting ticket splitters — but not enough to offset the onslaught of down-the-line Democrats.

One of two things happened in Westchester and New York State yesterday: the Democrats came out in force — with the result being mostly the maintenance of the status quo; and/or with fatal weakness at the top of the ticket for Governor and US Senate, Republicans in New York could not capitalize on the national trend. In the Hudson Valley area, except for the wins by Nan Hayworth over John Hall for Congress and Greg Ball over Mike Kaplowitz for the State Senate — both districts in way northern Westchester and Putnam, Democrats held most seats. Aside from the Oppenheimer-Cohen contest, the other local race that’s

Pechman and Manson

at the Crowne Plaza

too close to call is the 89th Assembly district race between Republican Bob Castelli and Democrat Tom Roach another contest that will be decided by recount and absentee ballots.

Stay tuned.

David A. Singer is a former political consultant/campaign professional and political junkie currently toiling as a lawyer in Westchester and managing real estate and media investments.