New York Election Results: Cuomo gets 4 more years

New Yorkers have spoken, and have re-elected incumbent Democrats to the state’s top positions.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo was re-elected governor with new Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul. He defeated Republican candidate Rob Astorino with about 52.86 percent of the vote, according to the New York State Board of Elections on Wednesday.

The current governor cast his ballot Tuesday morning in Mount Kisco, in Westchester County, along with his girlfriend, Sandra Lee.

Cuomo’s re-election campaign reminded voters he balanced the state’s budget four years in a row, and created more than 440,000 jobs. Cuomo intends to move forward his Women’s Equality Act, which proposes equal pay, abortion rights and anti-discrimination measures.

Cuomo said Tuesday “we began our journey four years ago” to return the state to “fiscal stability and responsibility” and “restore New York as the progressive capital of the nation.”

Astorino, a Westchester county executive, cast his ballot in his home county Tuesday morning with his wife and children. Astorino promised to get rid of common core education standards, and reminded potential voters throughout the campaign about Cuomo prematurely dissolving the Moreland Commission.

Astorino received 39.14 percent of the vote.

​​Green party gubernatorial hopeful Howie Hankins, whose campaign promises included a fracking ban, legalizing marijuana, a $15 minimum wage and “fully funded public schools,” received 4.79 percent of the vote, numbers showed .

Tuesday night, Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke at Cuomo’s re-election party, saying New York voters today realized grassroot Democratic efforts, and sent a message that “ultra-conservatives” and Tea-party candidates “are never going to win the day in New York State.”

Around 10:15 p.m., Cuomo said he just got off the phone with Astorino, who called “to congratulate us on a race well run.”

New York State Attorney General

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who was elected to the position four years ago, will remain attorney general. Schneiderman, whose campaign reminded voters he took on big banks for their role in the financial crisis, and bought bulletproof vests for cops using money recovered from drug traffickers, received 53.04 percent of the vote, board of election numbers showed. He was being challenged by Republican candidate John Cahill, a Manhattan lawyer who previously served as George Pataki’s chief of staff, and who co-owns a business development company with the former governor. Cahill received 39.07 percent of the vote.

New York State Comptroller

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has been elected to his third terms as state comptroller with 57.08 percent of the vote. DiNapoli, who has been in office since 2007, credits himself with capping state debt through budget reforms and setting up emergency reserves. Most recently, his office issued report that the majority of MTA stations are in disrepair. Republican challenger Robert Antonacci, who is serving his second term as Onondoga County Comptroller, said he was running for state comptroller in hopes of turning around the state’s economy. Antonacci received 34.47 percent of the vote.

U.S. Congress 11th District

​​Incumbent Michael Grimm was re-elected to a third term as U.S. congressman representing Staten Island and Brooklyn’s 11th District with 53.37 percent of the vote. Grimm was indicted on 20 federal counts, including fraud, earlier this year related to a Manhattan health food restaurant he used to own. The former Marine and FBI agent more recently called for a travel ban to the U.S. from Ebola-affected countries. Democrat Domenic Recchia, who previously served on NYC council, challenged Grimm, and received 40.61 percent of votes.

Amendments

New Yorkers voted to approve three ballot measures that would create a 10-person commission to redraw state and congressional districts, allow the legislature to send out bills electronically and allow the state to issue bonds up to $2 billion to fund school technology.