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Kavanagh concedes in Ulster County DA election
Patricia R. Doxsey reports for the Daily Freeman that Republican Michael Kavanagh has conceded to Democrat Emmanuel Nneji in the election for Ulster County District Attorney. Kavanagh said, “After consulting with my team, it appears that the current vote tally provides Manny Nneji an insurmountable lead in the race for Ulster County District Attorney.... Therefore, we have asked the Board of Elections to cease counting any remaining outstanding absentee ballots and declare Mr. Nneji the winner.” Nneji received 58 votes on Nov. 15, following the count of 98 absentee ballots. That put him up by 368 votes over Kavanagh, 24,206 to 23,838. And on Nov. 15, 12 more absentee ballots will be counted, but that will not be enough for Kavanagh. In the initial ballot count without absentee ballots, Nneji was only winning by 195 votes. Kavanagh said, “While we ultimately came up just short of our goal, I am very proud of my team and the campaign we ran.... In a county where Democrat candidates enjoy a staggering advantage, we nearly accomplished what many thought impossible.” Nneji will be the first Black man to hold a countywide elected office in Ulster County, and is only the second Democrat as District Attorney. In 2019, Democrat David Clegg defeated Kavanagh by just 76 votes. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.