Plus other local and state results

U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, a Democrat from Philipstown who has represented the Highlands in Congress since 2013, on Wednesday morning (Nov. 9) conceded his race to Republican challenger Mike Lawler.

An anticipated “red wave” of Republican wins in the U.S. Senate and House did not materialize nationally, but there was a ripple locally, with Republicans taking two of three Hudson Valley congressional districts that had been held by Democrats, bolstering their chances of regaining control of the House. The state Senate seat that represents the Highlands also remained Republican.

Mike Lawler and his wife, who live in Rockland County, took their daughter with them to vote on Nov. 8.(Campaign photo)
Mike Lawler and his wife, who live in Rockland County, took their daughter with them to vote on Nov. 8. (Campaign photo)

Before redistricting based on 2020 census data, District 17 was held by Mondaire Jones, District 18 (including Philipstown and Beacon) by Maloney and District 19 by Antonio Delgado, all Democrats.

On Tuesday, the new Districts 17 and 19 flipped red, with Marc Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive, winning the seat vacated by Delgado this year when he became lieutenant governor.

Molinaro’s deputy, William O’Neill, will become county executive on Jan. 1 and serve for a year; the position will be on the November 2023 ballot.

Knocking out Maloney, the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, was a prize for the GOP. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a political action committee devoted to electing Republicans, spent millions of dollars on video ads and flyers in District 17, attacking Maloney on crime and supporting Lawler.

Maloney countered by dubbing Lawler “MAGA Mike” and portraying him as a protégé of former President Donald Trump. As in other races, each candidate claimed he was mainstream and his opponent represented the extreme.

In the end, Lawler won, by 3,200 votes among more than 278,000 cast. Maloney was strongest in Westchester County but could not overcome deficits in Dutchess, Putnam and Rockland.

“I don’t like to lose,” Maloney said at a news conference on Wednesday. “But my opponent won this race, and he won it fair and square. … I’m deeply grateful to the people of the Hudson Valley for giving me their voice and their vote in Washington for 10 years. I’m not going to whine about it. I’m going to do this the right way. And the right thing to do is to say the other guy won, to wish him well and to pledge my support.”

On the House results in general, he said: “House Democrats stood our ground. And we believe Nov. 8, 2022, will be a signature day in American political history, and, we hope, the high watermark of some of the anger and the division that we have dealt with this entire cycle from Jan. 6 on through. And we hope for something better for our country.”

As of Thursday, Democrats were projected to maintain their 51-50 advantage in the Senate (with Vice President Kamala Harris as a tiebreaker) but cede control of the House, where Republicans needed to gain just five seats. Because of a number of close races, the Republican’s margin (if any) may not be known until next week, but the party’s quest to retake the House was aided by four seats it flipped in New York, including by Lawler and Molinaro.

U.S. House (District 17)

Total Putnam
✓ Mike Lawler (R, C) 140,833 23,730
Sean Patrick Maloney (D, WF) 137,633 16,466

In the race for District 18, the Democratic candidate, Pat Ryan, held off Colin Schmitt, the Republican candidate, winning by fewer than 2,200 of 266,000 votes cast. Although absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day can still arrive to be counted over the next week, it is unlikely they would change the result, and Schmitt conceded the race at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

“After a hard-fought campaign the people of our district made their choice and I respect their decision. I wish the best for Pat Ryan and hope he will do great things for our Hudson Valley families,” he said. “I thank my wife Nikki, my family, friends, supporters, and team for all their dedication and commitment given to this campaign. We left it all on the field and I am proud to have been in the arena fighting for my home community.”

Ryan currently represents District 19. He defeated Molinaro earlier in the year to fill the seat vacated by Antonio Delgado, who left to become lieutenant governor.

U.S. House (District 18)

Total Dutchess
✓ Pat Ryan (D, WF) 131,301 48,699
Colin Schmitt (R, C) 129,128 45,048

Molinaro won his race for the new District 19, which includes northern Dutchess County, defeating Democrat Josh Lawler.

U.S. House (District 19)

✓ Marc Molinaro (R, C) 142,653
Josh Riley (D, WF) 136,468

STATE SENATE

Rolison
Rolison

Julie Shiroishi, a Beacon resident running as a Democrat, lost her bid for the District 39 state Senate seat that will include Beacon and Philipstown. With all precincts reporting, Rob Rolison, the Republican mayor of Poughkeepsie, was victorious, 51 to 45 percent. He is a former Town of Poughkeepsie detective and Dutchess County legislator who is in his second term as mayor.

“While the outcome was not what we hoped, I am proud of all we achieved in such a short time,” Shiroishi said in a statement. “I have zero regrets and am truly humbled to have received so much love and support. This morning, I called our new senator-elect to congratulate him and wish him well. This is where I am raising my family and I want him to succeed so our communities can thrive.”

State Senate (District 39)

State Dutchess Putnam
✓ Rob Rolison (R) 57,125 41,305 4,431
Julie Shiroishi (D, WF) 49,937 34,711 5,008

Sue Serino, a Republican from Hyde Park, had represented the Highlands since 2017 in the state Senate’s District 41, but redistricting changed its boundaries to only include northern Dutchess and she lost to Michelle Hinchey, who represents the (old) 46th District.

State Senate (District 41)

✓ Michelle Hinchey (D, WF) 72,149
Sue Serino (R, C, Ind.) 65,599

STATE ASSEMBLY

Dana Levenberg celebrated with fellow Democrats at a rally on election night.
Dana Levenberg celebrated with fellow Democrats at a rally on election night. (Campaign photo)

Dana Levenberg, the Ossining town supervisor, easily won the seat for District 95, which includes Philipstown. The Democrat was a former chief of staff to Sandy Galef, who held the seat for more than 30 years and offered Levenberg her endorsement.

Levenberg, who has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Brown University, is a former advertising and TV producer. She served nine years on the Ossining school board and is in her fourth term as the Ossining town supervisor. She also worked for eight years as chief of staff for Galef, who endorsed her.

“I look forward to serving you in the state Assembly and building on the legacy of my mentor, Sandy Galef, who has exemplified good government for all of us for nearly 30 years,” Levenberg said in a statement. “She leaves large shoes to fill, but I feel well prepared to step into this office.”

State Assembly (District 95)

Total Putnam
Stacy Halper (R, C) 14,645 1,806
✓ Dana Levenberg (D, WF) 21,331 3,117

Jonathan Jacobson, a Democrat whose district in the Assembly includes Beacon, ran unopposed for a third term.

STATEWIDE VOTES

Proposal No. 1: A Proposition
The proposition, which appeared on the back of the ballot, asked voters to authorize New York State to issue up to $4.2 billion in bonds to “fund environmental protection, natural restoration, resiliency, and clean energy projects.” At least $650 million will be spent on water quality and resilient infrastructure, $1.1 billion on restoration and flood reduction, $1.5 billion on climate change mitigation and $650 million on open space conservation and recreation.

State Dutchess Putnam
✓ Yes 3,414,347 65,775 21,589
No 1,653,195 40,402 15,961

The National Resources Defense Council issued this statement on Nov. 9: “Voters have made history by supporting the state’s largest environmental bond act ever. This sets the stage for $4.2 billion in investments for clean and safe water, climate mitigation, environmental justice, and land conservation. These investments will address pressing environmental challenges – including replacing dangerous lead pipes, reducing air pollution by electrifying buses and buildings, restoring coasts to protect homes from floods and much more. Now, Gov. Hochul must ensure that these funds go to the communities that need it most.”

U.S. Senate
Chuck Schumer won his fifth term, which will make him the longest service senator from New York (Daniel Patrick Moynihan served four terms). He defeated Joe Pinion, a conservative commentator who was the first Black person to receive a major party backing for the U.S. Senate in New York.

State Dutchess Putnam
Joe Pinion (R, C) 2,440,427 55,348 23,528
✓ Charles E. Schumer (D, WF) 3,187,140 55,554 16,548
Diane Sare (LaRouche) 25,690 554 152

Governor/Lt. Governor
Kathy Hochul, who took over when then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned in August 2021, became the first elected female governor of New York. She defeated Lee Zeldin, a four-term House member who represents the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County on Long Island but will leave office Dec. 31.

State Dutchess Putnam
✓ Hochul/Delgado (D, WF) 3,019,290 53,855 16,010
Zeldin/Esposito (R, C) 2,694,086 58,424 24,557

Comptroller

State Dutchess Putnam
✓ Thomas DiNapoli (D, WF) 3,181,081 57,082 16,937
Paul Rodriquez (R, C) 2,402,420 53,626 22,960

Attorney General
Letitia James won a second term, defeating Michael Henry, a Queens lawyer. When James took office in January 2019, she was the first Black woman elected to statewide office and the first Black and first female attorney general in New York.

State Dutchess Putnam
Michael Henry (R, C) 2,566,875 56,434 23,994
✓ Letitia James (D, WF) 3,046,972 54,529 16,085

STATE SUPREME COURT (9TH DISTRICT)

The 9th District (of 13) covers Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties. The seven candidates who received the most votes were elected to 14-year terms.

John Ciampoli (R, C) – Private practice
Robert Cypher Jr. (R) – Private practice, former Rye judge
✓ Sherri Eisenpress (D, C) – Rockland Family Court
Joseph Farca (R) – Private practice
✓ Keri Flore (D) – Support magistrate, Cortlandt Manor
✓ Elena Goldberg-Velazquez (D, C) – Yonkers City Court
Michael Grace (R) – Former Yorktown supervisor
Richard Guertin (R) – Middletown City Court
✓ Anne Minihan (D, C) – Westchester County Court
Linda Murray (R) – Court attorney, Poughkeepsie
✓ Amy Puerto (D) – Court attorney, Westchester
John Sarcone III (R, C) – Private practice, Croton
✓ David Squirrell (D) – Putnam Legal Aid Society
✓ David Zuckerman (D, C) – Westchester Supreme Court

PUTNAM COUNTY

Executive
✓ Kevin M. Byrne (R, C)

Clerk
✓ Michael C. Bartolotti (R, C)

Coroner (Vote for 2)
✓ John Bourges (R, C)
✓ Michael Nesheiwat (R, C)

Legislative District 5 (Lake Carmel, Hamlet of Carmel, Patterson)
Greg Ellner will succeed Carl Albano (R), who could not run because of term limits.

Maureen Fleming (D) 1,596
✓ Greg Ellner (R) 2,748

Legislative District 6 (Southeast)
✓ Paul Jonke (R)

Legislative District 9 (Town of Carmel, Mahopac)
Neal Sullivan, the incumbent, was removed from the Republican primary due to flaws in his nominating petitions but allowed to remain on the Conservative line.

✓ Erin Crowley (R) 2,889
Neal Sullivan (C) 597

State Senate District 40
Pete Harckham, the incumbent, won a third term. The district includes eastern Putnam, southeastern Dutchess and northern Westchester.

✓ Pete Harckham (D) 64,869
Gina Arena (R) 50,533

State Assembly District 94
The district is represented by Kevin Byrne (R), who ran unopposed for Putnam County executive. It includes eastern Putnam and Yorktown in Westchester County.

Kathleen Valletta (D) 17,607
✓ Matthew Slater (R) 32,063

PHILIPSTOWN

Highway Superintendent
✓ Adam Hotaling (D)

COLD SPRING

Trustees (Vote for 2)
Former trustees Marie Early and Fran Murphy ran as write-in candidates. The early results did not indicate which write-in candidate received how many votes.

✓ Laura Bozzi (Good Neighbors) 587
✓ Tweeps Woods (Service Party) 606
Write-in box 153
Write-in box 117

DUTCHESS COUNTY

Sheriff
Kirk Imperati won a full term after taking over as interim following the death last year of Adrian “Butch” Anderson, who was elected sheriff in 1999 and subsequently won five, 4-year terms without opposition.

In his 29 years with the department, Imperati has held a series of positions, including road patrol officer, detective and supervisor of crime prevention programs in local schools and organizations. Most recently, he was undersheriff, overseeing day-to-day operations at the sheriff’s office, including the corrections, civil and road patrol divisions.

He was challenged by Hanlon, who began her career as a corrections officer in 1997, became a sheriff’s deputy in 1999 and retired last year.

Jillian Hanlon (D, WF) 45,752
✓ Kirk Imperati (R, C) 63,460

Party Key:   D = Democratic  |  R = Republican  |  C = Conservative | WF = Working Families | Ind. = Independence

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

A former longtime national magazine editor, Rowe has worked at newspapers in Michigan, Idaho and South Dakota and has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Northwestern University. Location: Philipstown. Languages: English. Area of Expertise: General.

4 replies on “Lawler, Ryan Win House Seats”

  1. Thank you for your informative rundown of the election results.

    I’m extremely disappointed in Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney’s showing which, in my view, reflects the fact that he took his local support for granted. It felt like he didn’t put much effort into his campaign other than spending a huge amount of money to get his name and face on unrelated internet search results. At no time did he reinforce the message of why and how he would continue to be a responsive representative to us in his district.

    Our household received at least one, but more often two or three, campaign mailers from his challenger, Mike Lawler, every single day for at least six weeks before the election. These flyers only offered criticism of Maloney’s views and unrealistic exaggerations of crime statistics and fearmongering anecdotes about bail reform — nothing about what Lawler would do once elected to the national stage.

    We received no communication — zip, nada — from Maloney until the day before the election. It was a boring letter on congressional stationary describing a few of his achievements. In years past, I’ve been invited to his informative telephone town hall meetings, but nothing of the like this year. I received no invitations to campaign events or appearances, no mailers, flyers or door knockers, either.

    I feel that he took my support for granted. Now he’s lost his seat and we’re represented by a guy who cares little for the plight of average people still trying to recover from pandemic economic upheavals. Lawler has promised he’ll vote with a Re-publican majority to gut Medicare and Social Security (just as I’m eligible for these benefits) and support more restrictions on reproductive choice, along with myriad other knuckleheaded measures that prey on fear and erode trust in our governmental institutions.

    Sean, I’m sorry you lost this election but not at all surprised. You just didn’t put the effort in to ask us for our support, then ask again, and show us why you were still our best choice.

  2. As chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which is tasked with electing Democrats to the U.S. House, Rep. Maloney is due recognition and applause for the failure of the “red wave” and the Democratic results.

    In his own race, redistricting all of Putnam County into the 17th District impacted the usual Democratic strength — eastern Putnam always votes the Republican line. For the Rockland portion of the district, it was brand-new with untested strength, involvement or connection to the Democratic committee. His resources were focused there. Bloc voting by a large group in Rockland also was an impediment.

    The DCCC placed Maloney in a precarious situation — he was running for re-election in a difficult district tangle and also responsible for all House races. It was not possible to have two big wins: Be OK with the more important House results.

  3. I really appreciate The Current’s online coverage of local election results. I don’t think that News 12 Hudson Valley even knows that Putnam County exists! Thanks.

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