Maloney victory margin widens to more than 12 points after absentee ballots are counted

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney's reelection victory margin has ballooned with the counting of more than 70,000 absentees ballots cast heavily in his favor, growing from a modest two percentage points in machine-cast votes to more than 12 points overall.

The Cold Spring Democrat, who was challenged by Republican Chele Farley, appeared likely to score the largest victory of his five races for New York's 18th Congressional District. That feat stood in stark contrast to losses other House Democrats suffered last month, when their caucus lost a dozen seats and retained only a slender majority.

“It is the honor of my life to represent and serve the Hudson Valley in Congress," Maloney said in a statement on Tuesday as the count neared its end. "This margin of victory — my widest yet — proves that my record of getting results for the Hudson Valley has earned the trust of families, veterans and farmers across our district."

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Farley, a private-equity executive living in Tuxedo Park, already had conceded more than a week earlier, after the Associated Press called the race in Maloney's favor. She said in a statement then that he led by about 11,000 votes, or less than three percentage points, and that she was considering running again in 2022.

"Rest assured, I will continue to fight for the people of the Hudson Valley and will keep you fully apprised of my plans," Farley said.

That spread grew to nearly 43,000 votes over the ensuing days. Maloney led by 186,475 to 144,826, or 55.8% to 43.3%, in figures Maloney's campaign obtained from election boards in the four counties in New York's 18th Congressional District. Independent candidate Scott Smith had won 3,153 votes, or less than one percentage point.

The 18th District takes in all of Orange and Putnam counties and parts of Dutchess and Westchester counties.

cmckenna@th-record.com