Empire State is getting a whole lot bluer
Let’s look at the 2004 election results and compare that with what happened last Tuesday:
- Kerry won New York by an 18.3% margin over Bush and won 21 counties. Obama won our state by a 25.5% margin, which represents a swing of 7.2% toward the Democratic candidate. So much for the Clinton supporters not supporting Obama. He won 34 counties, 13 more than Kerry won in 2004, and all 13 are in upstate New York. Light blue counties on the map are those that Bush won in 2004 and Obama won in 2008. Kerry won Monroe County by 2.9%, whereas Obama won our home county by 18.4%.
new-york-counties1
- Both Senators from New York are Democrats. Four years ago, George Pataki was the the Republican governor.
- Of the 29 congressional districts in New York, there are only three Republican congressman remaining. In 2004, 9 Republican congressman were elected from New York. Dems gained three seats in both 2006 and 2008. Again, the light blue signifies a pickup.
ny-house-seats2
- The majority in the Assembly has been padded by five new seats, which it a 109 to 41 majority. In two years, Democrats gained at least five seats in the State Senate and won a majority on Tuesday for the first time in decades. One seat in Queens, the 11th district, is holding a recount.
state-senate
So, to recap: Obama won New York and Monroe County by huge double-digit margins, Democrats won the governorship and all statewide offices, including both US Senate seats, added six congressman for a 26 to 3 congressional delegation, gained five assembly members for a 109 to 41 majority, and picked up five new state senators for a 32 to 30 majority. New York is solidly in the progressive corner, and it goes far beyond just New York City.
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