Dems Sweep!

Election night turned into one big victory party for Democrats.
Democrats swept the big-four statewide offices up for grabs in New York, retook the U.S. Congress from the Republicans by potentially gaining more than 30 seats in the House, and may even take control of the U.S. Senate with Virginia still tallying votes that will decide the majority.
New York State Democrats handily took control of the state-elected positions with Eliot Spitzer winning the Governor's race, Andrew Cuomo, the Attorney General's race, Hillary Rodham Clinton winning re-election to the U.S. Senate, and embattled Comptroller Alan Hevesi winning a convincing election.
Spitzer received nearly 70 percent of the votes against Republican candidate John Faso giving him a near mandate for his desire to reform Albany when he takes office in January.
&#8220Today was a victory not of one candidate or one party, but of all those irrepressible optimists who have hoped and dreamed of a resurgent New York. A New York that still exists as a symbol of creativity and ingenuity to all the world, a New York whose greatest days lie ahead,” Spitzer said at a victory party in Manhattan where he shared the stage with Clinton and Cuomo after resounding victories over Republican hopefuls John Spencer and Jeanine Pirro respectively.
While some experts believed that Comptroller Hevesi's legal woes, allegedly using a state employee to chauffeur his sick wife for three years on the state's dime, could give Republican Christopher Callaghan a shot at winning, voters elected Hevesi to a second term by a 57 percent to 39 percent margin.
&#8220All New Yorkers know by now I made a big mistake, and I am truly sorry,” Hevesi said to supporters at a victory party on election night. &#8220Tonight, New Yorkers have said clearly that that mistake should not erase 35 years of public service.”
In Queens, the lone bright spot for Republicans included victories in the State Senate by veteran incumbents Frank Padavan and Serphin Maltese, who won a narrow victory over Democratic hopeful Albert Baldeo by less than 3 percentage points or about 1,000 votes with 600 absentee ballots still pending.
&#8220In the face of a campaign like I don't remember seeing, it's like the people saw through the lies and the statements from an unscrupulous opponent,” Maltese said. However, Maltese said that he is grateful to his constituents and supporters who gave him the chance to continue to serve Queens in Albany.
The two Republican Queens State Senators held their seats.
However, in the Assembly, Democrats picked up at least two additional seats increasing their majority, and Queens incumbents Audrey Pheffer and Andrew Hevesi decidedly won election in their districts. In addition, first-time representatives Rory Lancman and Ellen Young cruised to victories.
&#8220Today the voters spoke with a clear voice,” Young said. &#8220Today they voted for smaller class sizes in our local schools, for expanded access to high-quality, affordable healthcare and for reduced traffic congestion in downtown Flushing.”
In the U.S. Congress, incumbents Joseph Crowley and Carolyn Maloney, who both represent parts of Queens, cruised to re-election and figure to have prominent roles in the leadership when the Democrats take over in the house in January of 2007.