| UPDATE: The Times-Union has called it for Aubertine, calling it an "upset" of Barclay. I don't know how much of an upset it was. I think calling it an upset fails to acknowledge the strong bi-partisan support Aubertine received in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. That was key to his victory tonight. Upset? I think not.
If you haven't heard, Democrat Darrel Aubertine is the winner of the 48th Senate District special election tonight. Aubertine won with 27,901 votes to Republican Will Barclay's 25,345. The margin of victory was 2,556 votes.
Media outlets are only calling Aubertine the "unofficial" or "apparent" winner because there are approximately 3,836 absentee ballots left outstanding. Common sense and just straight mathematics would suggest that it is nearly impossible for Barclay to win this race. He would need to win around 3,197 votes to win this race outright counting absentee ballots.
That being said, we have our winner tonight: Darrel Aubertine.
Aubertine's victory has led to questions about his Assembly seat. Aubertine represents the 118th Assembly District and one person has come forward as a possible candidate for that seat: Addie Jenne-Russell.
Democratic Jefferson County District 4 Legislator Addie Jenne-Russell, who was on hand for Aubertine's victory celebration Tuesday night, said she's interested in running for the 118th District Assembly seat.
"It's something that I've thought about obviously with Darrel winning, it does leave the seat vacant. I think it's something that several of us are considering, but it is way too early to make a decision," she said.
Should be interesting. My congratulations to Aubertine for his huge win tonight, inching Democrats closer to Senate control. |
