New York Republican Claudia Tenney will be certified as the winner of the race to represent the state’s 22nd Congressional District, according to a state Supreme Court ruling on Friday.
The decision by state Supreme Court judge Scott DelConte, ordering counties and the state electoral council to certify his victory ends a three-month legal battle with another change in the House for Republicans, reducing the Democratic majority to 221-212. Tenney will remove Dep. Anthony Brindisi (D) in the first season.
DelConte criticized local electoral councils for “systemic violations of state and federal electoral law”, including the failure of Oneida County to process more than 2,400 voter requests. However, the judge decided that it is not the role of the court to rectify these errors.
“Every valid vote cast in the 22nd Congressional District of New York has been counted and counted,” wrote DelConte.
The judge also ruled that Brindisi did not prove that certification of Tenney’s victory would cause “irreparable damage”, as he has more ways to fight against certification in court.
Brindisi has already said he can appeal the decision and also has the option to challenge the election result directly in the House. He said there should be a recount and audit after what he said were “countless errors and discrepancies” in the initial count.
“I believe that a complete audit and manual recount is the only way to resolve this race. With such a narrow margin, the ever-changing count and the countless errors that occurred when reaching today’s final number, we cannot afford to ask us here, “he said. “It is shocking at the moment, no one knows who really won this race. My opponent and I deserve real clarity.”
Tenney is currently ahead of Brindisi by 109 votes and has a 0.035 percent lead. She won the seat for the first time in 2016, but lost to Brindisi in 2018, when Democrats had a wave election cycle. Her victory would bring the number of Republican women in the House to 30, a jump of just 13 after the 2018 elections.
“I am honored to have won this race. It was a very hot campaign and I thank Anthony Brindisi for his service. Now that all the legal votes have been counted, it is time for the results to be certified. Voters need a voice in Congress, and I am looking forward to starting work on behalf of the 22nd congressional district of New York, “said Tenney in a statement.
Friday’s decision highlighted the success Republicans had in the House in the 2020 cycle. While observers predicted that the GOP would lose up to 15 members, the GOP ended up winning more than a dozen seats.
Republicans rejoiced at the victory.
“Claudia is a proven fighter from upstate New York, who will start exactly where she left off, delivering bipartisan solutions to her district,” said the representative. Tom Emmer
Thomas (Tom) Earl EmmerGOP at a crossroads after the siege of the Capitol. Wave of companies cut donations – many of them for GOP California was a key factor in the success of the GOP Party in 2020 MORE (R-Minn.), The chairman of the National Republican Congress Committee. “I am pleased to welcome Claudia back to Washington and look forward to working with her once again.”
“It only took 94 days, but Claudia Tenney was finally declared the winner in # NY22. It was time, ”tweeted the minority leader of the house Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthyHere are the 11 Republicans who voted to remove Greene from House committees. House votes to expel Greene from committees for embracing McCarthy conspiracy theories in QAnon: ‘I don’t even know what it is’ MORE (R-Calif.). “This is the 15th seat in the House that Republicans have won, and it joins 18 other women to set the record for our largest female freshman class of all time. Congratulations Claudia! ”
It only took 94 days, but Claudia Tenney was finally declared the winner in # NY22. It was about time.
This is the 15th seat in the House that Republicans have won, and it joins 18 other women to set the record for our largest female freshman class of all time. Congratulations Claudia!
– Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) February 5, 2021
“I’m excited to add another GOP woman to our ranks to push back against the speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiHouse votes to expel Greene from committees because of the adoption of conspiracy theories Drama by Hoyer: Lead Democrat says Greene is putting ‘Squad’ at risk Impeachment managers call on Trump to testify MOREliberal agenda and fight for our conservative values! ”Added Representative Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), who also won a Democratic seat in November.
Excited to add another GOP woman to our ranks to push against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s liberal agenda and fight for our conservative values! Congratulations, @claudiatenney! https://t.co/D7WayK789e
– Ashley Hinson (@hinsonashley) February 5, 2021
The victory is particularly significant for the GOP at a time when the Chamber is so divided. Democrats have almost no margin of error as the party plans to pass meaningful laws, including President Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package.
The victory also puts the GOP within five seats of claiming a majority in 2022.
Tenney may face an uphill battle for re-election next year. Democrats control all levers of power in the state government and can either redesign their district to make it more democratic or combine it with Rep. Elise Stefanik
Elise Marie StefanikNY Republicans want the Justice Department to intimidate Cuomo about nursing homes. Pentagon pauses plan to offer coronavirus vaccine to Guantanamo Bay prisoners Proposal for permanent Capitol fences generate bipartisan resistance (R), pitting the two Republicans against each other.