By Kelsey Durham
More than three weeks after the election, a congressional primary between two Republican candidates in northeast Queens finally has a winner.
The state Board of Elections certified Long Island attorney Grant Lally as the winner of the June 24 race, overtaking opponent Stephen Labate by just 11 votes. Lally will move on to face U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Melville) on the ballot in November, running on both the Republican and Conservative tickets.
Lally received 3,439 total votes and Labate took in 3,428. Though Labate won two of the three counties represented by the district, Queens and Nassau, Lally secured enough votes in Suffolk county to pull away as the winner.
The third congressional district represents the Queens neighborhoods of Little Neck, Douglaston, Whitestone and Bay Terrace.
Reach reporter Kelsey Durham at 718-260-4573 or by e-mail at kdurham@cnglocal.com.
