Jimmy Vielkind reports in the Times Union Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk (KAT-chik) has defeated Republican George Amedore after election officials in Ulster and Albany counties opened 91 ballots, Fri., Jan. 18. The final margin was 19 votes. "No one believed our campaign had a chance in a district hand-carved by Republicans, and yet the power of good ideas and a strong campaign proved itself," Tkaczyk said in a statement. Only one other Senate race in recent times was closer: last year's win in Brooklyn by Republican David Storobin over Lew Fidler by 13 votes. Tkaczyk's win means Amedore, a homebuilder from Rotterdam, holds the record as the shortest-tenured state senator in modern Senate history. Amedore called Tkaczyk on Friday morning to concede the race. Read the full story in the Times Union.