Updated Results: Bedford Election Coverage 2012

For a comprehensive guide to the races and candidates, click here; to find your polling place, click here; to live chat Election Day in the Hudson Valley, click here.

Local races and results

Bedford has passed the referendum for a 1 percent open space tax and elected David Menken to serve as the town's next justice.

Democratic challenger Sean Patrick Maloney is leading Republican incumbent Nan Hayworth in the race for the state's 18th Congressional district.

Posted below are the unofficial results as reported by the Westchester County board of elections and local party officials.

Below the race results is a narrative of how the election unfolded at the local level, from the time the polls opened through post-poll victory and concession speeches.

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New York State Senate, District 37

81 percent of districts reporting

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New York State Senate, District 40

* Justin Wagner leads in Westchester but Greg Ball leads overall with combined Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester vote

Candidates: Putnam        

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New York State Assembly, District 93

* 88 percent of districts reporting

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Bedford Town Justice

* 94 percent reporting as of 11:30 p.m.

Referendum on Open Space Tax

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Lewisboro Town Clerk

Maloney Declares Victory; Hayworth Concedes

Wedneday, 9:50 a.m.

Congresswoman Nan Hayworth conceded the race for the 18th Congressional District in a letter to her supporters, emailed Wednesday morning:

Dear Friends,

The election of 2012 is over, and while the results didn't go our way, nobody could've fought harder or more honorably than our team. 

I'm so proud of the hundreds of volunteers who spent their days and nights working to protect and promote all that we cherish about our country and our Hudson Valley. 

I'm honored to have been side by side with all of you and to have served as our Representative in the 112th Congress. 

I'll continue to do all I can to serve the cause of individual liberty and opportunity that is uniquely American. 

It is in that spirit of love of country that I'll now concentrate on helping our new Representative-elect, Sean Patrick Maloney, have a smooth transition for the sake of our constituents. 

Please know that I'll always keep faith with the friendship and support you have shown, and that you have my deepest gratitude.

Sincerely, 

Nan Hayworth

12:58 a.m. Democratic challenger Sean Patrick Maloney is declaring victory, his campaign tweeted.

As of 12:51 a.m. Wednesday, Maloney has 129,795 votes to Hayworth's 121,116. There are 173 write-in votes listed on the board of elections' site for all counties in the district except for Westchester

Reached late Tuesday night, Evangeline George, a spokeswoman for the Maloney campaign said that results looked good but they were holding off on declaring victory. Attempts to get comment from the Hayworth campaign were unsuccessful.

Latimer Wins State Senate Seat

12:30 a.m. As supporters chanted "George, George, George," at a Democratic Party rally in White Plains, George Latimer declared victory in New York's 37th State Senate district.

The assemblyman thanked a room full of supporters in the Coliseum Night Club on S Broadway in White Plains.

"The people chose these seats," he said.

Latimer's victory keeps the 37th State Senate seat long held by Suzi Oppenheimer under Democratic control. Oppenheimer has occupied the seat since 1984. She did not run for re-election this year and will retire after completing her 14th term in December.

Bob Cohen (R) conceded the race just after midnight, acknowledging that his campaign—and the campaigns of his fellow Republicans—fell short.

"But that's only part of the story," he said. 

Cohen said Republicans needed to build up their party and reach out to conservative, independent and unaffiliated voters in Westchester County.

"We need to put forth the positions we espouse: Lower taxes, more effective government and an improved climate for business," he said. "We need to educate voters who tend to vote along party lines in a presidential election about these issues that matter."

Buchwald Unseats Castelli in 93rd Assembly

Midnight: Democrat David Buchwald has defeated incumbent Republican Robert Castelli in New York's 93rd Assembly District.

Buchwald, a White Plains Common Council member, had captured 53 percent of the vote with 88 percent of districts reporting when Castelli conceded the election. The Democrat celebrated the victory with supporters at Vintage in White Plains Tuesday night.

"I will be working every day to make sure we have a state government that is moving us forward, helping those less fortunate but also giving people the tools and opportunities they need to help themselves and to make sure that we are leading the nation," Buchwald said.

Castelli conceded the race at a gathering for county Republicans at the Crowne Plaza hotel in White Plains.

He praised his fellow Republican candidates, including Bob Cohen, saying, "It was a tremendous honor to run alongside you."

Castelli thanked his supporters, whom he said were "unsung heroes" for the hours, minutes and days that they worked on his campaign.

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart," he said. "Rest assured, I will be committed to my job as Assemblyman of the 89th District until 11:59 p.m. on December 31."

Once in office, Buchwald said his first priority will be the local economy.

"We are in need of a well-coordinated approach to bring good paying jobs back into the area," he said. "I know that's exactly what we need, an ambassador who will work to promote the great opportunities there are here for companies to come and really bring us forward not just for the next year or two, but for decades to come."

David Menken Wins Town Justice

10:53 p.m. David Menken has won the race for town justice, according to unofficial party results provided by the Bedford Democratic Committee, and was part of a Democratic sweep in the town of Bedford.

Menken won 4,015 votes to Gabor's 2,518 votes. He said he won because he had the support of many friends and advisors in the community.

"From Chris Burdick, who gave me strategic advice, to Bea Rhodes, who managed my campaign, to my wife Julie—an equal partner who advised me every step of the way—to all of my supporters who stood at the train station platforms, made phone calls and wrote letters on my behalf. I couldn't have done this without them," Menken said.

He also said the victory was bittersweet because he would rather be working alongside Kevin Quaranta instead of replaciing him.

"I feel sad about that—and I know I have big shoes to fill. I hope I can do the same level of work with the same level of integrity," he said.

Unofficial results also indicate that Sean Patrick Maloney has taken Bedford, with 3,741 votes to Nan Hayworth's 2,825 votes; George Latimer secured 3,372 votes, to Bob Cohen's 3,029 votes and David Buchwald won 3,429 votes to Robert Castelli's 2,942 votes (unofficial results).

Janet Donohue Wins Lewisboro Town Clerk

11:00 p.m. The Lewisboro Ledger reports that Republican-backed incumbent Janet Donohue defeated Democratic challenger Jeff Morris for Lewisboro Town Clerk. Unofficial numbers: Donohue 3,153 votes (59% of vote); Morris 2,182 votes (41%).

Ball Declares Victory; Wagner Says 'Too Close to Call'

9:05 a.m. Wednesday — A statement from the Justin Wagner campaign, regarding opponent Greg Ball calling the race, was released at 1 a.m. Campaign manager Steve Napier issued the comment "in response to Senator Greg Ball's bizarre and inaccurate claim to victory in the 40th District State Senate race, when thousands of votes from heavily Democratic precincts remain uncounted."

"The race is too close to call," said Napier. "While all of the traditionally high-performing Republican areas have been fully counted, results in much of the traditionally Democratic areas of Westchester County have yet to be reported. We will pursue a full and fair count of all ballots, and we are confident that in the end Justin Wagner will be seated in the New York State Senate."

Ball claimed victory earlier Tuesday night, when he announced that with 100 percent of districts reporting he has won Dutchess County by 1,918 votes, with 100 percent of districts reporting he has won Putnam County by 5,037 votes and with 78 percent reporting he is down in Westchester County by 3,183 votes giving Ball a commanding 3,772 vote lead.

"It is one thing to make promises every two years, it is another thing entirely to deliver results," Ball said in a statement. "Working with Governor Cuomo, in a bipartisan way, I have delivered. In just two years we have repealed the MTA payroll tax, capped property taxes and cut income taxes across the board. In the next two years I will continue my independent voting record and lead the fight to create good paying local jobs, deliver real and lasting tax relief, freeze school taxes for seniors, and reign in our unaccountable utilities. I’m glad the campaign is over, and ready to get back to work."

10:27 p.m.

With 26 percent of districts voting, 62 percent are so far supporting Bedford's 1 percent open space tax.

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9:26 p.m.

Bedford Democratic Chair Bruce Yablon said he's encouraged by early numbers, showing some edge for David Menken for town justice, according to unofficial results by party poll watchers. With 16 percent of districts reporting, Menken shows a 70 percent lead, with 526 votes to Gabor's 164.

7 p.m.

Bedford town clerk Lisbeth "Boo" Fumagalli said turnout has been so high in Katonah that they're running out of paper ballots at the library. She's working on getting additonal ballots brought to that location.

The town's numbers so far are revealing an approximate voter turnout of 75 percent town-wide.

4:30 p.m.

The two candidates for town justice—Bedford's only local race—David Menken and Todd Gabor, were both busy with last minute stumping before the polls close.

Gabor said he was hearing great support from voters as he stopped in locations around town from the local post office to the Bedford Diner.

"My initial feeling is that this is a new chapter in political science—a Democrat endorsed by Republicans for town judge. This association is for the betterment of the community. We will see at the end of the day, of course, how it turns out, but I think this race is not about politics."

He planned to vote later this evening as was tradition in his family with his wife and children at the Bedford Presbyterian Church.

Menken was at home today manning a phone bank at his home along with a group of volunteers, "leaving no stone unturned" and reaching out to individual voters to encourage them to go to the polls.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," he said. "I lost last time by 36 votes. This time I've had an incredible network of friends working tirelessly to help."

4 p.m.

White Plains Patch Editor Zach Oliva spoke with the candidates for NY 37th senate district, Bob Cohen and George Latimer, today. Both candidates were campaigning throughout Westchester County Tuesday. Cohen said he has been visiting train stations and speaking with voters since early this morning. Latimer said he has been to Tuckahoe, Yonkers, Mamaroneck and Rye with plans for other locations before the polls close.

Here are more details on this race as it stands today.

1:30 p.m.

Assemblyman Robert Castelli, who is running for re-election as the 93rd district's representative in Albany, voted at Increase Miller Elementary School at noon today. He said the power outages were his focus today—not "standing at the train station, kissing babies," which he said would not have been appropriate in the aftermath of storm Sandy.

He acknowledged the work done so far by utility companies to restore power to thousands of residents but said the "slow start time" was disappointing for the residents in his district. "They knew the storm was coming, and crews should have been in place before the storm, not three days after it arrived," he said.

"Whether or not I am re-elected, I am still here to do a job, and that, right now, is to work on this power situation," he said.

Castelli's opponent, White Plains attorney David Buchwald, voted in White Plains earlier today. When reached by Patch he said he was inspired by the turnout he was seeing, despite the power outages and disruptions caused by the storm.

"Voters are enthusiastic," he said. "The top issues today are to get everyone's power back, but for the long-term, voters want to see a good number of jobs brought to the area. Now it is up to the voters, and I am eager to see how this race turns out."

12:30 p.m.

Just spoke to Peter Michaelis of Bedford, who told me that he talked with NYSEG workers who drove to Bedford from Iowa to help get power back on for local residents. Took a couple of days to get here. He asked them how they planned to vote, and one man sadly told him that he couldn't vote, "for the first time in 52 years," because he didn't have time to do an absentee ballot prior to his arrival here.

The storm has caused power outages, school closings, cold homes—and disenfranchised voters.

11:30 a.m.

Congresswoman Nan Hayworth voted in Bedford this morning, and greeted a crowd of voters inside town hall while a crowd of her supporters waited outside and across the street on Bedford Road, waving political signs and cheering cars driving by.

Hayworth said the top issue voters were focusing on was the economy.

"When the economy is doing well, we're all doing well," she said.

She was optimistic about a minimal storm affect on today's turnout at the polls and expressed concern for those without power and heat.

11 a.m.

Polling sites in Bedford attracted voters from their home districts and others taking advantage of alternative voting sites because their own were in storm-ravaged towns in other parts of New York State such as Long Island and waterfront areas of Brooklyn, according to poll workers at the Bedford Hills Community House.

Turnout was brisk at both the Bedford Hills Community House and the town hall Tuesday morning, where voters chatted about the issues, the candidates—and whether or not they had power at home.

Here's what some local voters had to say:

Kathleen Lang, Bedford Hills: I would have walked through snow to vote for Romney. We have six children [two in college, one in law school, one in high school, two are working] and we don't want them to inherit the current situation with jobs, the economy and national debt. It's at $50,000 per person—over $16 trillion in this country now. We can't govern like this anymore. It will strangle us.

John Lang, Bedford Hills: I agree with Romney that we have too many entitlements and we need to address that. I want to see a reduction in the size of government. Romney will constrict spending and force this issue.

Sharon Buchs, Bedford Hills:  Terrorism still scares me and I want to see a president who addresses that issue. But the economy is on everyone's minds. I'm a registered Republican but I don't always vote that way.

Ruth Beltran, Bedford Corners: I voted for Obama because Romney feels like a throwback to the 50s. He's not connected to real life. He won't protect women's rights—I have daughters and that concerns me. His supporters say he'll create jobs—I think he cares more about creating profit for a few; he'll do anything to maximize profit. I also support Obama because I don't think he'll drag us into unecessary wars.

Arthur Weiner, Bedford Corners: I am concerned about my children [in high school and middle school] having jobs when they graduate. I'm concerned about them having too much college debt. I also don't want to see a repeal of Obama's Affordable Health Care Act.