Victory for Anna Throne-Holst in Democratic Primary After Absentee Votes Tallied

By: 
Lisa Finn
Publication: 
Southampton Patch
Jul
9
2016

After all the votes were counted, Anna Throne-Holst bested her opponent Dave Calone in the Democratic primary in the 1st Congressional District by 319 votes.

"I am deeply grateful to all who placed their trust and support in me, and I am truly humbled by the privilege it has been to get to know, share the concerns, and my message with so many," Throne-Holst said. "I want to congratulate Dave Calone on a spirited race, and I share in the respect and support he garnered in the district, as demonstrated by the very close margin and the strength of his candidacy."

Throne-Holst said she looks forward to working together with Democrats across the district to take back the "important seat. Lee Zeldin has shown in every way how out of step and wrong he is not only for Long Island, but for the country."

The results came after a nail biter Democratic congressional primary night left Anna Throne-Holst with a narrow lead over Calone.

On Thursday, the Suffolk County Board of Elections said the counting of the absentee ballots had begun; the process could have taken anywhere from one day to two weeks but were done by Friday.

The initial results after the vote last week had Throne-Holst in the lead by a narrow margin of 5,439 to 5, 415.

According to Gordon Herr, chairman of the Southampton Town Democratic Committee, 4,118 absentee ballots were mailed to voters and 1,665 were returned to the Suffolk County Board of Elections as of June 28. Ballots postmarked by June 27 and received at the BOE by Tuesday were counted.

Throne-Holst will now will face off with incumbent and freshman Rep. Lee Zeldin in the upcoming election in November during what's likely to evolve as a heated race to unseat her opponent of his seat.

"Now is the time for all Democrats in Southampton Town and in CD1 to unify Anna and ensure that she defeats Zeldin in November," Gordon Herr, chairman of the Southampton Town Democratic Committee, said. "I look forward to celebrating great victories for Anna and Hillary!"

"We were outspent in this campaign by nearly $1 million and fell short by around 300 votes . . . that's a testament to the great Democratic volunteers supporting our campaign across the district," Calone said. "We cannot continue being represented by Congressman Lee Zeldin, one of Donald Trump's loudest advocates in Washington, so I urge people across eastern Long Island to join me in supporting our Democratic nominee, Anna Throne-Holst, to replace him this November."