Democrat Todd Kaminsky declared victory Tuesday in a pivotal state Senate race on Long Island that could give Democrats the majority in the Senate and a shot at total control of state government in New York.
Republican Chris McGrath's campaign, however, said the race was too close to call and that it could take days for a result.
Unofficial totals showed Kaminsky had 50 percent of the vote just before midnight, ahead of McGrath by less than 800 votes and with absentee ballots left to be counted.
The two men waged aggressive campaigns for the seat, which had been held by ex-GOP Senate Leader Dean Skelos until he was convicted of corruption last year.
Democrats and Republicans now hold 31 seats each in the state Senate. Republicans maintain control, however, thanks to the support of a handful of breakaway Democrats who crossed their own party to empower the GOP.
That tenuous agreement could change if Kaminsky hands the Democrats an outright majority. Democrats already hold the executive branch, led by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and the majority of seats in the state Assembly.
"This election was about bringing new leadership to Albany," Kaminsky said in a statement declaring victory Tuesday night.
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McGrath's campaign, however, appeared ready for the contest to continue.
"This race is too close to call," McGrath's campaign said in a statement. "It will not be decided tonight. All the votes will have to be counted in the coming days."
In a sign of the race's importance President Barack Obama recorded a phone message sent to voters Monday that cited Kaminsky's support for paid family leave, middle-class tax cuts, school funding and a higher minimum wage. The message went out to voters in the district beginning Monday, the latest indication of just how serious both parties view the race.
Earlier this month, Kaminsky picked up the endorsement of Democratic former President Bill Clinton. And in an unusual victory for a Republican, McGrath last week secured the support of 1199 SEIU, a powerful union of health care workers.
McGrath has said he's the better representative for Long Island. He has sought to tie Kaminsky to Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and has said that if Kaminsky is elected state government could fall under the control of Democratic leaders from New York City.
Kaminsky is a former corruption prosecutor who has campaigned on the need to clean up Albany following the convictions of Skelos and others.
Three other special legislative elections were held Tuesday.
In lower Manhattan, Democrat Alice Cancel defeated three other candidates to win former Speaker Sheldon Silver's old seat in the 65th Assembly District. Cancel, a local Democratic leader, works in the office of the city comptroller. She faced an unusually strong challenge from legislative staffer and Working Families Party candidate Yuh-Line Niou. Republican Lester Chang and Green Party candidate Dennis Levy came in third and fourth in the race.
Silver, a Democrat, was forced out last fall after being convicted in a $5 million corruption case. The district includes the city's financial district, Chinatown and Battery Park.
Voters in Brooklyn elected Democrat Jaime Williams to the Assembly after he easily defeated Republican Jeffrey Ferretti. Williams is the former chief of staff to Roxanne Persaud, who represented the district in the Assembly until she won a state Senate seat in last November's elections.
In an uncontested Assembly race on Staten Island, Republican Ronald Castorina Jr. won the seat vacated by Joseph Borelli when he was elected to the New York City Council.
