NATIONAL ELECTION RETURNS : State-by-State Election Reports of Key Races and Issues : New York
Michael S. Dukakis won heavily Democratic New York’s 36 electoral votes, the second-largest prize of the election after California. The count solidified minutes after he had conceded defeat to Vice President George Bush.
New York’s two-term Democratic senator, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, won an easy reelection over Republican Robert McMillan.
In funding, the race was no contest, but Moynihan also enjoys high voter approval ratings and was coming off a fresh set of favorable ratings as a prime mover of the welfare reform law. McMillan, a lawyer, was well connected politically but his only run for office was a failed race for the New York City Council in 1964.
Going into the election, Democrats held a 19-14 congressional edge, with one vacancy created by the resignation of Bronx Democrat Mario Biaggi following his Wedtech racketeering conviction.
While Biaggi remained on the general election ballot on the Republican line, he did not campaign and Democratic state Assemblyman Eliot Engel captured the seat by a 2-1 margin.
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