GLENS FALLS—Scott Murphy will be the next representative from the 20th Congressional District, which includes all of Columbia County. The outcome of the March 31 special election remained in dispute until Friday afternoon, April 24, when Republican James Tedisco conceded the race.
Mr. Murphy, a Democrat and Glens Falls businessman, fills the seat left vacant when Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed to the Senate early this year by Governor David Patterson. In a televised news conference from his home, Mr. Murphy said he would go to Washington next week to be sworn in to his new post, the first elective office he has held. He said he had received a call from President Obama earlier, who congratulated him on his victory.
Although the center of the congressional district, which covers all or part of 10 counties, is Saratoga County, Columbia County voters apparently played a large role in putting Mr. Murphy in office. His margin here was one of the largest in the whole district, and it was here that supporters of Mr. Tedisco lodged many of their challenges against uncounted absentee ballots, especially those cast by people who have second homes here.
The last ballot count had Mr. Murphy up by 401 votes out of over 155,000 cast. That made it a virtual certainty that Mr. Murphy would win regardless of the way the absentee votes split.