Two years after barely defeating Republican Randy Altschuler in a tight race, incumbent Rep. Tim Bishop defeated him again Tuesday, this time by a wider margin.
The victory, which Altschuler conceded, came at a wider margin than 2010, with Bishop holding above 52 percent of the vote based on unofficial results.
"I wish the Congressman the very best in his efforts over the next couple of years," said Altschuler, speaking at The Emporium in Patchogue, who also thanked his crew of volunteers and staff.
According to unofficial results from the Suffolk County Board of Elections, Bishop has earned 132,525 votes over Altschuler's 121,478 votes, with all 472 election districts reporting.
"What I am going to say is that my opponnent may have had the guys with the big checks," said Bishop, referring to a flurry of outside spending this year. "But I had the guys with the big hearts ... And that's what they bet against. And we won because of all of you and all of those middle class families you fight for and I fight for.
- Check here for a complete list of New York's Congressional and Senate race results.
Tuesday's rematch ended up much differently than the 2010 contest, which took 36 days after Election Day to call because it was so close. In that race, Bishop finally squeezed out a 593-vote victory, after nearly 200,000 voters cast their ballots in the race.
At the Islip Marriott, where Suffolk County Democrats held their party on election night, Bishop called the rematch between the two candidates “the most bruising and brutal campaign I’ve ever been a part of," citing what he called the personal nature of his opponents' attacks as well as the length of the campaign.
Bishop said turnout seemed to be better than 2010, though not quite as high as 2008.
Though the last race between the two lasted until the following month, Bishop said he was hoping that this year’s outcome would be settled before the end of the night.
He said about 23,000 absentee ballots have been filed in the race, 36 percent filed by Republicans and 34 percent by Democrats, though those numbers could not be immediately confirmed.
Many political observers have likened the Bishop-Altschuler race to the presidential one: both incumbent Democrats taking on a former businessman who previously sought the seat.
Name Votes Percent Tim Bishop (D) 132,525 52.1 Randy Altschuler (R) 121,478 47.8
Your missing my point. Since bishop continues to raise taxes it becomes harder and harder to pay my bills. In regards to my cousins and friends bring unemployed I blame this government for the increase in unemployment for many different reasons, including uncertainty with health care, Dodd-frank bill, squeezing small businesses with further tax hikes and so on. I am not asking the government to provide jobs, I'm asking the government to stay the fuck out of our business so my cousins can find a job. Going back to school is great also jerk off if you have resources and your not providing for a family. Understand this I'm looking for answers from the bishop lovers. They come on here to celebrate and rub it in that there candidate won but people are in need of jobs do noone should be rubbing anything in specially after we allow the guy who has been in for over 8 years to continue to screw up this county. So to all of you bishop supporters that are celebrating your victory what's the answer? Higher taxes?
The thing that amazes me is that you hate Bishop so much yet don't even know the name of his opponent. your friends and cousins could have volunteered for Randy and that networking could have helped them find a job. I appreciate your concern, but as a small business owner taxes have actually gone down under Obama. Dodd Frank was needed to prevent another meltdown and Obama care does not hurt small business. Only those who have taxable income over 250k need to provide insurance. To answer your question Bishop did not "screw up" the country, he helped to save it. He will vote for the policies of our president that favor the common man as opposed to large corporations and billionairs. Perhaps it has not caught up to you but we have and a long steady recovery, the markets have doubled, and a lot of people are doing better as you can see by all the busy restaurants in Smithtown.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article3255.htm Romney was heavily backed by the Koch brothers. What is their tie, if any, to the Bush doctrine? I think that it is important to know that the Koch brothers are backing segregation and the end to school busing in America...sound familiar? This will take our nation's strides for equality back 75 years. Think before you vote Republican...there's a Nazi in the woodshed.