By Brian Bohl
WESTBURY- Nassau Legis. Craig Johnson became the first Democrat to win a Long Island state Senate seat in more than 20 years Tuesday, defeating Republican candidate Maureen O’Connell in a special election.
Johnson secured the victory by close to 3,500 votes, holding a 26,452 to 22,929 advantage. His victory ended a campaign in which both candidates spent close to $3.8 million and drew endorsements and campaign visits from presidential hopefuls.
The day before, Sen. Hillary Clinton campaigned for Johnson, while former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani tried to drum up support for O’Connell.
With the win, Johnson narrowed the Republican majority in the state Senate to four votes. Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who campaigned for Johnson, will now have another Democratic legislative member in the Senate as he attempts to push through new initiatives regarding school aid, tax reform and prison closings.
“As Long Islanders, we are heading towards property tax reform – that will help our seniors and overburdened middle class,” Johnson said in front of his supporters in Great Neck. “And as New Yorkers, we will help Eliot Spitzer finish the job of changing state government so it works for all of us, not just the well-connected few.”
Shortly after all 264 precincts in the 7th Senate District reported around 10:30 p.m., O’Connell, the Nassau County Clerk, made her concession speech in front of supporters and volunteers at Westbury Manor.
“The odds were not in our favor when we started,” O’Connell said. “It was a shifting district, politically. I’m proud of our campaign. We gave them the fight of their lives”
The GOP majority now stands at 33 to 29, with the chance that the Democrats could win control of the chamber during next year’s election. Johnson will be replacing Republican Michael Balboni, who vacated his seat this December to serve as Spitzer’s state homeland security director.
Johnson, a Port Washington resident, is the representative for Nassau County’s 11th legislative district. He is currently in his third term and will soon vacate the position for his new office, adding that he hopes more Democrats will join him shortly.
“As Democrats, we are on our way to a new majority in the State Senate – a cause that was advanced tonight but that continues starting now,” Johnson said. “This is not my victory. This is your victory. More than 1,000 people gave up days, weeks of their lives to dedicate to this cause.”
O’Connell garnered 46 percent of the votes, though acquiring the support of Giuliani and the 1199.SEIU health care workers union was not enough to secure the victory. She congratulated Johnson during her remarks Wednesday, though the election featured accusations of impropriety on both sides. O’Connell asked the U.S. Attorney’s office to investigate alleged fraudulent telemarketing calls that were attributed to her campaign.
“These calls were a blatant and unlawful attempt to undermine my campaign just two days before the election,” O’Connell said prior to the special election.
A Johnson spokesman refuted any claims that his side was involved. His camp also made a request to assign monitors to ensure there would not be any civil rights violations. The Justice Department refused the request.
A.J. Hall provided reporting for this story