Two Republicans State Senators who voted for same-sex marriage faced more conservative challengers in primary elections Thursday, and those races were the big story of the election night. Kathy Marchione leads incumbent Roy McDonald in the Republican 43rd Senate district primary by very few votes, how many is still unsure, with 1100 absentee votes, in a district including parts of Columbia County and areas to the north. To the south of the WGXC listening area, Steve Saland in Dutchess County led Neil DiCarlo by 42 votes with many absentee ballots.

As of 2 a.m., Kathy Marchione is ahead of incumbent Roy McDonald, who voted for the same-sex marriage bill, by either 49 votes (The Daily Gazette), "fewer then 50" (Albany Times-Union), 136 (All Over Albany), or 138 (The New York Times). Capitol Confidential is quoting a source saying McDonald won Columbia County by 12 votes. There are 1100 absentee ballots (399 from Columbia County) still to be counted. McDonald, at campaign headquarters said, "Wow, is this close or what.... This is certainly going to be one of those absentee ballot counts." Reports are it will take two weeks to deal with the absentee votes. Marchione countered: "If I don't win tonight I'll be on the ballot in November as a conservative candidate. I will actively campaign."

Incumbent Steve Saland in Republican primary against Neil DiCarlo in District 41 leads by 42 votes with 100 percent of precincts in, according to The Daily Freeman. Saland backed same-sex marriage last year in the New York State Assembly. Again, this race will go to absentee votes. Saland formerly represented parts of Columbia County before redistricting.

In the Senate District 46th Democrat primary, Capitol Confidential reports Cecilia Tkaczyk of Duanesburg won the Democratic nomination for the new 46th Senate District, and will face Assemblyman George Amedore, R-Rotterdam, in November. Tkaczyk beat Thomas Dolan and Monica Arias Miranda. This district includes Greene County.

The Register-Star reports that in the 107th Assembly District Democratic primary show candidate Cheryl Roberts leading Keith Hammond by a margin of 703-53 in Columbia County. In Rensselaer County, with twelve of 55 election districts in, Roberts led Hammond 420 to 162 votes.

Assemblywoman Didi Barrett and Republican Challenger David Byrne are both vying for the Independence party line in the 106th District, and Byrne is currently winning by one. In Columbia County Byrne leads 56 to 49, while Barrett is ahead in Dutchess county 112 to 106 with about 50 absentee votes.

The Daily Freeman reports With 72 percent of the precincts reporting, incumbent state Sen. James Seward will beat challenger James Blake in the Republican primary in New York's 51st Senate District. Seward led 7,095-1,695, with 188 of 255 precincts reporting. Seward used to represent Greene County before redistricting. His district now stretches from Ulster County west to Tompkins County and north to Herkimer County. In Ulster, it includes the towns of Rochester, Olive, Shandaken and Hardenburgh

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports Kieran Lalor defeated Patrick Manning and Richard Wager for the Republican nomination in the newly created 105th Assembly District. Lalor has 2,907 votes to Manning's 1,564 and Wager's 1,101 in the Dutchess County race.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares, who refused to prosecute Occupy Albany arrestees, is ahead 57 to 40 percent with 97 percent of results in.

Greene County did not report any results all night. These unofficial results are according to a Democratic party source.
Republican Greene County Legislator Durham
Patricia Handel - 148
Leslie Armstrong - 96

Independence Greene County Legislator Durham
Leslie Armstrong - 13
Patricia Handel - 12

Roy McDonald gave the speech below, posted by the Albany Times-Union.