Congratulations to Rob Astorino

ROB ASTORINO (R), nephew of Maryknoll Father Bob Asterino, beat Democratic incumbent and long-time fixture on the local scene Andy Spano to become Westchester County Executive. With 100% of the precincts reporting, Astorino received 80,592 votes (58%) to Spano's 59,34 (42%).

Now that we have this, the governorships of New Jersey and Virginia, the 23rd NY Congressional District and same-sex marriage in Maine (repealed 54 % - 46%) solved, we can move on to the all-important First Ballot for First Assistant to the U.S. Regional Superior, due Nov. 17.

2009 Election results (Updated 12:30 a.m. EST)

AS I PREPARE TO GO TO BED with this last post of election night, with 88 percent of votes counted, three and a half hours after polls closed in New York, Rob Astorino (R), nephew of our Father Bob Astorino (Hong Kong), STILL leads incumbent Andy Spano (D) 80,592 (57.6%) to 59,314 (42.4%) for Westchester County Executive.

With 87% of the vote counted for the suddenly famous 23rd Congressional District WAY Upstate, MSNBC reports that Conservative Doug Hoffman has conceded to Democrat Doug Hoffman.

Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate, was forced to withdraw when the Right Wingnuts of the GOP (Palin, Beck, Pawlenty & Co.) blind-sided her and supported the Conservative candidate. She then turned around and threw her support to the Democrat. Because her name remains on the ballot, Scozzafava is pulling 6,725 votes or 5.5%. Owens has become the first Democrat to represent that district since the Civil War. Clearly those ornery Upstaters (just ask Br. Wayne) have rejected meddling outsiders.

Meanwhile up in Maine, the bill to repeal same-sex marriage rights is still too close to call. This, despite an unprecedented effort by the Roman Catholic diocese of Portland to have it overturned. The Governor of Maine, John Baldacci, a Catholic, signed the bill into law earlier this year, explaining it simply as a case of equality under the law.