Cuomo Sails To Victory, Has Long Coattails As Democrats Sweep In Statewide Races


ALBANY – Democratic Incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo rolled to an easy victory for a third term in office, besting GOP challenger Marc Molinaro and three third-party hopefuls. Democrats also swept statewide races again.
Cuomo, as of just after midnight, tallied 59.06 percent of the vote to Molinaro’s 34.85 percent.
Howie Hawkins of the Green Party was a remotely distant third with 1.69 percent. Libertarian Larry Sharpe tallied 1.58 percent. Stephanie Miner grabbed 0.89 percent. Sharpe’s efforts guarantee the Libertarian Party will be on the New York State ballot for the next for years after he surpassed 50,000 votes.
Cuomo, who raised a firestorm of criticism this year when he said “American was never that great,” took a different tone while making his acceptance speech Tuesday evening.
“We are not a nation of red states and blue states, we are a nation of red, white and blue states,” Cuomo said.
He also took the time to take a shot or two at President Donald Trump, again raising speculation that he will seek the presidency in 2020.
“The president says,”Make America Great Again? Well, he doesn’t understand what made America great in the first place,” Cuomo said.
“I challenge Gov. Cuomo to work with all those New Yorkers who feel like they are on the outside looking in,” Molinaro said in his concession speech.
Incumbent State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli coasted to re-election with 65.07 percent of the vote to Jonathan Trichter’s 29.84 percent. Mark Dunlea of the Green Party received 1.14 percent and Libertarian Cruger Gallaudet received 0.55 percent.
Trichter, a registered Democrat running as a Republican, never had a lead in the polls.

DiNapoli (pictured right). Credit Justin Gould/WNYNewsNow

“I want to thank New Yorkers for once more electing me to serve as State Comptroller,” DiNapoli said in a statement. “With their renewed support, I will continue to guard the taxpayers of this state against waste and corruption, and push to make government more accountable, efficient and transparent. I want taxpayers to know there is someone in Albany on their side, advocating for people of all backgrounds and fighting for what matters.
The State Attorney General’s race was also a one-sided affair with Democrat Letitia James landing 60.90 percent to Republican Keith Wofford’s 33.14 percent. The Green Party’s Michael Sussman had 1.17 percent. Reform Party candidate Nancy Sliwa had 0.39 percent and Libertarian Christopher Garvey had 0.70 percent.
James’ victory was historic in that she is the first African-American woman elected to a statewide post in New York. James campaigned on opposing efforts by President Trump and vowed to use the power of the office against Trump stands the state leaders disagree with.