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Democrat Judy Griffin unseats Republican Brian Curran in 21st Assembly District

U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice and State Sen. Todd Kaminsky retain seats

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Democrat Judy Griffin defeated incumbent Brian Curran in the 21st Assembly District in Tuesday’s election. Griffin, a Rockville Centre community activist and a former director of community outreach for State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, took 53 percent of the vote to unseat Curran, of Lynbrook, who garnered 47 percent.

“I’m thankful that Nassau County recognized we could do much better,” Griffin told a crowd of about 300 at the Garden City Hotel late Tuesday night.

Griffin told the Herald that since declaring her candidacy in May, she had received support from family, friends and volunteers, who helped knocked on doors and got the word out that she was running.

"I feel amazing," she said. "This district was run by Republicans for a long time. Finally a Democrat has taken the seat, and can do better and give the district what they deserve."

Kaminsky, a Democrat from Long Beach, toppled Republican challenger Francis X. Becker, of Lynbrook, to keep his seat in the 9th Senate District. A former federal prosecutor, Kaminsky once again focused his campaign on ethics reform and ending corruption in Albany, which seemed to resonate with voters, as he earned 62 percent of the vote to Becker’s 38 percent percent.

The Democrats earned enough seats to earn a majority in the state Senate. "I’m excited for the opportunity to bring reform to the people of the state,” Kaminsky said.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice held her 4th Congressional District seat by defeating Ameer Benno, winning re-election with 61 percent of the vote to Benno’s 39 percent.