After counting more paper ballots at the beginning of the week, Republican incumbent state senator Frank Padavan was leading James Gennaro by 742 votes. But Democrats are not giving as they allege that Republicans unlawfully are throwing out ballots from minority voters.

From the Queens Tribune:

Democratic Spokesperson Austin Shafran said Tuesday that current vote counts are premature and inaccurate because of the hundreds of remaining legitimate ballots of minority voters that Republicans have challenged based on race.

“We will keep going until every vote is counted,” he said.

Even with the “Gang of Three” in tow, Democrats would only have a 32-30 majority if Padavan is re-elected. So it would still be a huge boost to Malcolm Smith (say it with me now: the Incoming Majority Leader of the New York State Senate) if Gennaro wins.

Related posts:

1. Republicans challenge student votes
2. Padavan’s lead is shrinking
3. Padavan ahead by 692 votes
4. SD-11 headed for a recount
5. Skelos proposes a coalition government with the “Gang of Three”