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Latimer Seat In Westchester Seen As Key To Democratic Unity

George Latimer's election as Westchester County executive has opened up a state Senate seat that is now attracting national attention.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer thanking campaign supporters during a November "election celebration" party in his hometown of Rye. The race to fill his vacant state Senate seat is attracting national attention.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer thanking campaign supporters during a November "election celebration" party in his hometown of Rye. The race to fill his vacant state Senate seat is attracting national attention.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig

A special election to fill two vacant Senate seats, including Latimer's, is expected to be held on April 24. 

According to this article in The New York Times, the Rye Democrat's 37th District seat "could hold the key to Democrats scoring a government trifecta in Albany, an alignment in which one party controls the governorship, as well as both houses of the Legislature.

Latimer easily defeated two-term Republican incumbent Rob Astorino of Hawthorne in Novermber, by a 57 to 43 percent margin attributed in part to opposition to President Trump. 

Latimer’s former Senate seat is up for grabs, and the special election — as yet unscheduled — to replace him has once again assumed heightened implications.

While the Assembly has an overwhelming Democratic majority, the Senate is controlled by Republicans.

Democrats are likely to hold onto the Senate seat vacated by Ruben Diaz Sr., who was elected to the New York City Council.

But Latimer's seat is less certain, accoding to The Times. 

In 2012, Senate Republicans redrew the district map. 

Doug Colety, chairman of the Westchester Republican County Committee, told The Times: “The district is much better for Republicans than it was in the past.”

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