Marchione declares victory in 43rd primary

PHOTOGRAPHER: David Lombardo

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Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione is declaring victory in the Republican primary for the 43rd Senate District.

“We did it,” announced Marchione to a group of her supporters gathered at the Clifton Park headquarters.

On Monday, all but about 50 votes were completely counted in the district, giving Marchione a more than 100 vote lead over incumbent Sen. Roy McDonald. McDonald had closed his primary night gap with the counting of absentee and affidavit ballots in the district’s four counties, but remains mathematically unable to emerge victorious, short of a judge ordering a hand recount.

One big sign that the race is over was the presence of Saratoga County Republican Committee Chairman Jasper Nolan, who had supported McDonald. Nolan said that Marchione is the clear nominee of the party now, so he and the committee are rallying behind her.

For her part, Marchione said she is hoping Republicans in the district will now rally around her.

She added that McDonald has yet to call her and officially concede the election. On Monday night, his campaign put out a statement saying they were still weighing all their options. McDonald is slated to appear on the general election ballot as an Independence candidate and has previously told the Gazette he will actively campaign.