State Republicans could tie their historically lowest number of seats in the Assembly as a result of Tuesday’s elections, with only 41 seats in the 150-member body.

Assemblyman Tom Kirwan, R-Newburgh, trails in a race against to Democrat Frank Skartados of Milton, Ulster County, 49 percent to 51 percent.

The last time the GOP held the majority in the Assembly was in 1974, when Republicans had 80 seats and Democrats had 68, with two vacancies. Democrats grabbed control in the 1974 post-Watergate election, and have held it ever since, gradually building up their numbers to the current overwhelming majority.

That’s partly a reflection of the growing Democratic tilt of the electorate, which now consists of 5.7 million Democrats to a little more than 3 million Republicans. Another 2.5 million registered voters aren’t enrolled in any party.

Josh Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, pointed out there’s still no final result in the race, even though the most current figures show Kirwan, 75, who was first elected in 1994, trailing.

The seat “hasn’t formally changed over” yet, Fitzpatrick said.

He said all the ballot machines are being examined for possible errors and the approximately 3,000 absentee ballots still have to be counted.

If Kirwan loses, the Assembly Republicans would match their low-water mark set two years ago. They gained a seat in a special election in the Capitol Region last year.

Of the state Republican Party, Tedisco said, “We Republicans should not kid ourselves: we face a long, winding road back.”

Democrats will control both houses of the Legislature, the four statewide offices (governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller and attorney general) on Jan. 1, as well as both U.S. Senate seats and 26 of the 29 members of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York.

“Going forward,” Tedisco said, “it is clear that the Republican Party in New York state needs to be rebuilt, from the grassroots up.”

“We had a very good night,” said Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes. “Not only with the Assembly, but of course statewide and nationally as well.”

Other closely watched races where the incumbents won included Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, D-Ossining, who beat Putnam County Republican William Gouldman 68 to 30 percent. John Degnan, a Republican from Brewster, Putnam County, ran to unseat freshman Assembly incumbent Greg Ball, R-Carmel, and lost 49 to 51 percent. Joel Miller, R-Poughkeepsie, beat Democrat Jonathan Smith, 54 to 46 percent. All results are according to unofficial returns.

Source: Poughkeepsie Journal