Democrat Upsets Republican In Key Upstate Race Democrat Darrel Aubertine upset Republican Will Barclay in the special election for New York State's 48th Senate District Tuesday night – slicing the Republican majority in the State Senate to just one.
With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, the Associated Press projected the victory. Aubertine had 27,532 votes, or 52 percent, to 25,001 votes for Barclay, 48 percent.
Aubertine's victory cuts the GOP lead in the state Senate to 32 to 30, putting Democrats on the cusp of recapturing the Senate for the first time since 1965.
Political observers predict the Democrats will now seek a Republican defector, creating a 31 to 31 tie.
Lieutenant Governor David Paterson, who is a Democrat, would then cast the tie breaking vote, giving control to the Democrats.
It's been nearly three-quarters of a century since the Democrats have held the majority of the legislature and the governor's office.