The Republican party held its Primary Election on Tuesday, June 24th, following a hotly contested and much watched campaign between Matt Doheny and Elise Stefanik.
When the polls closed in New York’s 21st District, Stefanik took a lead of about 20 percentage points with the early precincts reporting.
She held her lead throughout the night, coasting to victory with a final election night tally of 14,909 to Doheny’s 10,297.
The results remain unofficial with absentee ballots yet to be counted.
At this point, Stefanik holds leads in 11 of the 12 counties in the district.
The county that eludes her is Herkimer County, which Doheny narrowly leads with a vote count of 232 to Stefanik’s 228.
As for votes in the Town of Webb, Stefanik bested Doheny with Republican voters by a tally of 53 to Doheny’s 47.
Elsewhere in Herkimer County, Stefanik won 80 to 63 in the Town of Russia; and 43 to 29 in the Town of Salisbury.
Doheny won 68 to 32 in the Town of Manheim, and 25 to 20 in the Town of Ohio.
With her victory, Stefanik will represent the Republican party on the November ballot.
She will also represent the Conservative party.
Matt Doheny is on the ballot as the Independence candidate.
They will oppose Democrat Aaron Woolf and Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello.
Neither Woolf or Funiciello faced primaries.
The NY District 21 seat is open following incumbent Democrat Bill Owens’ announcement in January that he would not seek reelection.
Voter turnout was relatively low on Tuesday in the Town of Webb.
Off-year primaries historically draw as few as 20 percent of eligible voters, compared to the higher turnouts of presidential election years.
But Tuesday’s turnout was significantly lower than that, with barely 10 percent of registered Republicans casting ballots in the Town of Webb.
Local Republican committee member Nancy Venetz said overly aggressive campaigning in the form of automated get-out-the-votes calls on candidates’ behalfs could have actually discouraged some voters.
The conducting of the federal primary in the month of June for the first time in New York State could also have been a factor.
Voters are used to voting in September primaries, she said.
September primaries are still held for those running for state and local offices.