Official: Key pol in gay marriage vote wins tight primary race
Republican state Sen. Steve Saland is running against primary challenge Neil Di Carlo. Credit: Handout
ALBANY -- A state judge is certifying that Republican state Sen. Stephen Saland, who cast the critical vote a year ago to legalize gay marriage in New York, has won a tight primary.
Dutchess County elections official Erik Haight said Saland defeated Neil DiCarlo by 107 votes out of about 9,800 cast in the Hudson Valley's 41st Senate District.
Saland told The Associated Press he knew the primary would be no "walk in the park," but said he never wavered on his decision in June 2011 to support same-sex marriage.
It was Saland's first primary in more than two decades in the Senate.
DiCarlo could challenge Saland again in November as a Conservative Party candidate.
In the 43rd Senate District recount in Saratoga County, Republican Sen. Roy McDonald trails Kathleen Marchione, the Saratoga County clerk. McDonald also supported gay marriage.
As the counting continued Monday, Marchione's lawyer, Michael Cuevas, told the Albany Times Union that a Marchione win was "inevitable." However, McDonald was not yet ready to concede.
A third Republican senator who voted for gay marriage, Mark Grisanti of Buffalo, won his primary in the 60th District.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
