GOP Rep. Grimm Wins Re-election in NY

Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm won a third term in Congress on Tuesday despite a rocky year that included a federal indictment on tax evasion charges and being caught on camera threatening to throw a TV reporter off a balcony, the Associated Press projects.

With almost all precincts reporting, Grimm had a sizable advantage over Democratic challenger Domenic Recchia in the campaign for New York's 11th Congressional District, which covers Staten Island and a part of Brooklyn.

"The bottom line, you had my back when I needed you most, and I'll never forget it," Grimm told supporters in his victory speech.

Grimm, 44, and the former New York City councilman faced off in combative debates, in which Grimm's indictment was a running theme. Grimm insisted he could serve effectively while Recchia maintained he couldn't.

Grimm's "priority is going to be staying out of jail," Recchia said at their last debate in October.

Grimm has pleaded not guilty to hiding more than $1 million in sales and wages while running a small Manhattan restaurant. His trial is set for February. He has said he would step down if he wasn't able to serve, which would trigger a special election for the seat.

On Tuesday night, Grimm made a passing reference to the legal troubles facing him, saying, "I know I have to meet these challenges head on."

On Long Island, six-term Democratic Rep. Timothy Bishop was defeated by state Sen. Lee Zeldin. Republicans had made previous pushes to unseat the six-term Democrat before finally succeeding with Zeldin, an Army veteran who served in Iraq.

New York's other open seat was on Long Island, where Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice declared victory against Republican Bruce Blakeman. Democratic Rep. Carolyn McCarthy has cancer and decided not to run for re-election. Rice claimed victory early Wednesday morning.

Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney defeated Republican Nan Hayworth in another tight race in the Empire State. Hayworth won the seat in 2010 only to lose it two years later to Maloney, a former aide to Clinton who became New York's first openly gay member of Congress. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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