We were just cheering that State Sen. Stephen Saland, who supported marriage equality in New York despite being a Republican, was finally declared the winner in a razor-close primary race.
But now it looks like his fellow aisle-crosser, Sen. Roy McDonald, isn’t so lucky.
With all absentee votes counted from the September 13 primary, Saratoga County elections officials announced Republican Kathleen Marchione had a 113-vote edge over McDonald, with just 50 votes that still could be contested.
“The primary is over, and we go forward unified, as far as I’m concerned,” said Marchione.
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Of the other pro-marriage-equality Republicans facing reelection, Saland and Mark Grisanti (R-Buffalo) won their primaries primary. (Sen. James Alesi did not seek reelection.) McDonald, a Vietnam War veteran, faced strong opposition for his stance, but said if critics wanted to vote him out because he voted his conscience, “they can take this job and shove it.”
Marchione used gay marriage as a wedge issue in the primary campaign. We’d love to hear how being against equality helps fight gridlock, provide for infrastructure, improve schools, create jobs—y’know, the things politicians are supposed to do.
niles
This one hurts. He made a very strong and favorable impression during the legislative debate, and it is sickening that republicans are so hateful as to turn a fine public servant such as this out of office over gay marriage.
Tom J
No doubt NOM will have it posted as a win on their web site…way too bad.
zaneymcbanes
If we had more politicians like Roy McDonald who voted with their conscience rather than a desire to be reelected, our system wouldn’t be in the terrible state it’s in. I have nothing but undying gratitude to him for breaking party lines and I am deeply saddened that he was punished for it. Bipartisanism is ruining this country.
Rock Star
He may have lost the battle but we will win the war. I applaud Roy for his courage.
BayAreaHomo
Last I read, he’s being encouraged to run as an independent. If the Republican voters who supported him in the primary plus the rest of the electorate (minus the haters) vote for him, he’ll win a decisive victory.
That would actually be doubly cool. NOM can monopolize the GOP in limited cases… but if they do, an independent victory by him would demonstrate that affiliation with NOM simply leads to destruction of an entire political party’s chances in the election.