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Incumbents were the big winners in Tuesday's elections with Governor Andrew Cuomo, Congressman Tom Reed, and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton handily winning another term in their respective offices.  While the results were not surprising, the size of the gap between Reed's 58.57% of 23rd Congressional District voters and Tompkins County Legislator Martha Robertson's 35.34% (unofficial results until write-ins are counted) following the very close race two years ago between Reed and Tompkins County Legislator Nate Shinagawa.

The 23rd District is largely conservative with the notable exception of Tompkins county, which joined Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, a portion of Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, part of Tioga, and Yates Counties in redistricting in 2012.  Reed won by a wide margin in every county except Tompkins, where Robertson led 54.61% to 41.11%.  District-wide Reed garnered more than 103,000 votes to Robertson's more than 62,000.

"Our work continues in Washington, D.C.," he told supporters in Corning, around 11pm Tuesday night. "As we declare this victory tonight, I declare the victory on behalf of all 717,000 people of western New York because together, we are all Americans," Reed said.  "We've got problems to face in America. When we go back to Washington, we're going to solve those problems.  We're going to create the opportunities of today and tomorrow so that people can call this home for generations to come."


Robertson called Reed Tuesday night to congratulate him before joining her election party at the Hotel Ithaca.

"I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. And you should be proud too," she told her supporters. "Running for office with all of you has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I am so humbled by each and every one of you, near and far across this district, who joined in this fight."

She went on to say the fight isn't over, implying she will run again in two years.

"Even though we didn’t win tonight, we won't stop fighting for our values," she said.  "We must continue to fight for the teachers and their students, for steelworkers and electrical workers, for older Americans and for our youngest citizens, and for moms and dads just trying to pay the bills. We will continue to make sure their voices are heard, and I will be ready to step up to the plate again, for the residents of the 23rd Congressional District."

Reed said that nationwide Republican gains added to Obama finishing out his final term will present opportunities for the Republicans and Democrats to work together.

"We've got the lame-duck opportunity in order to get the advanced manufacturing bill signed into law," he said. "I'm going to work with people across the aisle and make sure to make that a priority and, hopefully, that gets signed into law because that's about building here, and that's what we're all about."

Barbara Lifton won by a wide margin, collecting 55.33% of the vote to Herb Masser's 26.37%.  The vote was close in the part of Cortland County in the  125th Assembly District, with lifton getting 49.04% to Masser's 45.68%.  But Lifton was the clear favorite in Tompkins County where she garnered 56.96% to Masser's 21.37%.  More voters (21.61%) left the Assembly line blank than voted for Masser in Tompkins County.

Cuomo won another term with 53.08% of the state-wide vote to closest challenger Rob Astorino's 38.89%.  In Tompkins County the spread was Cuomo at 52.05% of the vote to Astorino's 22.01%.  Green Party candidate Howie hawkins, who ran an agressive campaign this year, got 10.71% of Tompkins County votes, but state-wide only 4.75% of the vote.

"Each and every single day I am humbled by the passion, strength, and vision of the people of New York," Cuomo said in an email to New Yorkers.  "It is a privilege to be your governor, a solemn duty, and a chance to serve the state that I have loved my entire life.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.  Now let’s get back to work."

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli won with 57.06% of state-wide votes.  Eric T. Schneiderman won the State Supreme Court Judge seat with 53.06%.  Uncontested incumbents on the Lansing ballot were State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio,  Tompkins County Sheriff Ken Lansing, and Lansing Town justice W. David Banfield.

Maureen Reynolds won the Tompkins County Clerk position uncontested.  She will replace retiring County Clerk Aurora R. Valenti.

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