Politics on the Hudson

Senate Democrats say Long Island Sen. Craig Johnson is rapidly gaining ground on Republican opponent Jack Martins.

Not so fast, say Senate Republicans.

Johnson, one of three Democrats whose races are too close to call, gained about 245 votes over the weekend against Martins.

Martins still holds a 246-vote lead over Johnson, but Democrats say 65 percent of the 4,600 or so emergency and absentee ballots were cast by Democrats.

“Republicans are trying to claim victory, but with each new tally Democrats are gaining strength,” said Senate Democratic spokesman Austin Shafran. “He significantly cut into Martins advantage.”

But Republican spokesman Scott Reif pointed to the Board of Elections counting ballots from heavily Democratic districts. Votes from the more conservative districts—which Reif said was Martins “base”—will break his way.

“It’s time for a little perspective to counteract the Democrat spin that Craig Johnson is building momentum as the absentee ballots are counted in his race against Jack Martins,” Reif said. “The truth: So far, election workers have only counted the absentee ballots that were returned in the heavily-Democratic 13th Assembly District and a portion of the 16th Assembly District, which comprises the Democrat base of the 7th Senate District.”

In the other races whose outcome will determine which party controls the Senate, Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer, D-Mamaroneck, Westchester County, continues to lead Republican Bob Cohen, while Sen. Antoine Thompson, D-Buffalo, continues to trail Mark Grisanti.

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