There’s no question this headline is putting the cart before the horse. But if Cuomo cynics are right, and the son-of-a-Mario gets a chance to move to DC in 2017, newly elected NYS Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul would succeed him and become the first woman governor in New York state history.
But first, some election news from Tuesday night. The winners as of 11:50p were Cuomo, Lowey, Carlucci, Jaffee and Zebrowski. The proposed changes to the Rockland County Charter were approved by the voters.
- Incumbent NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo has been projected to win re-election, defeating Westchester County Exec Rob Astorino. Cuomo led 54-41%. Green Party candidate Howie Hawkins captured five percent of the vote, depriving the governor of claiming a landslide during his re-election bid. In Rockland County, Cuomo captured 51% of the vote; Astorino totaled 45%; Hawkins, 3%.
- Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D) will get a 14th term in Congress, defeating first time candidate Chris Day (R) 56-44%. In Rockland County, where his Day’s dad is county executive, it was much closer: 52-48% for Lowey.
- NYS Senator David Carlucci (D -38th district) will return to Albany, defeating Donna Held (R) 69-31% (same percentages apply in Rockland).
- NYS Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee (D – 97th district) has defeated Robert Romanowski 58-42%.
- NYS Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (D – 96th) defeats Matthew Brennan 65-35% .
Regarding the questions on the ballot (mouse over each proposal for the ballot language):
Who is Kathy Hochul?
Kathleen Courtney “Kathy” Hochul (DOB: 8/27/1958) is an American politician who is the Lieutenant Governor-elect of the State of New York.
She served previously as U.S. Representative for New York’s 26th congressional district from June 1, 2011 to January 3, 2013. She prevailed in the four-candidate special election of May 24, 2011, to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Republican Chris Lee, and was the first Democrat to represent the district in 40 years.
Source: Wikipedia
- Revising State’s Redistricting Procedure (Proposal #1): 57-43%.
- Permitting Electronic Distribution of State Legislative Bills (Proposal #2): 77-23%.
- Smart Schools Bond Act Of 2014 (Proposal #3): 62-38%.
- “A local law amending the Rockland County Charter:” (Proposal #4): 57-43%
At this point, a “Cuomo For President” doesn’t sound very likely — especially with former NY Senator Hillary Clinton considering another run for the White House. But if the Dems win in 2016, Cuomo might be offered a cabinet position — or even the 2nd spot on someone’s ticket — which would allow Ms. Hochul to succeed him. If Hillary doesn’t run, Cuomo would be good Veep material for almost any other candidate.
Not likely, you say? Stranger things have happened — just ask Governor David Patterson or President Teddy Roosevelt. And just in case this inside political fantasy baseball should come true, here’s something you will need to know in the coming years, and you can say you heard it here first: the new Lt Gov pronounces her name “HOKE-ul”
Editor’s note: a few Rockland County results which didn’t make the first edition of this story:
- NYS Assemblyman James Skoufis (D, WF-99th AD) defeated Richard Cocchaira (R, C, I) 50-46%.
- As of Fri 11/7 only ten votes separate Elisa Tutini (D, WF) and Karl Brabenec (R, C, I) in the 98th Assembly District. Although Tutini leads, if history is any guide about these close contests, it will probably take a few weeks to declare a winner. At the end of the November 2013 election for Orangetown Supervisor, challenger Walter Wettje was declared the winner by a margin of 36 votes. However, after absentee and provisional ballots were counted and court challenges lodged by both sides, the incumbent was reelected, 42 days after election day when Andy Stewart was declared the winner by the slimmest of margins: two votes or .009%.
Source: Rockland County Board of Elections unofficial returns, 11/4/2014
See also: Orangetown Supervisor: Stewart Wins By Less than 1/100th Percent, 12/12/2013
