McCarthy Wins Ninth Term

Incumbent Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-Mineola, was re-elected to her ninth term in Congress Tuesday night.

McCarthy secured nearly 62 percent of the vote, beating back a challenge from Nassau County Legis. Francis Becker, R-Lynbrook, who had the support of 32 percent of the district's voters. Frank Scaturro, C-New Hyde Park, was a distant third, with less than 6 percent.

McCarthy had 138,561 votes, while Becker had 72,673 votes. Scaturro earned 13,243 votes. The Congresswoman declared victory shortly after midnight at Eleanor Rigby’s in Mineola and issued the following statement, touching upon the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and its impact on Tuesday's elections:

“This election has been unlike any I’ve ever experienced – I spent the entire day not at poll sites or campaigning but on the phone with LIPA and my colleagues in government, and working with my staff to help the many constituents who have called us looking for help after Hurricane Sandy. Meanwhile, my campaign staff worked all day to help people vote, with so many poll sites relocated and a gas shortage that’s just not letting up fast enough.

McCarthy added:

“We prevailed tonight because the voters of Long Island chose their candidates based on our records, and they came out to vote despite the great challenges posed by the most devastating storm our area has seen in living memory ... Tomorrow, we go back to work to continue fighting to get the lights back on, to get gas flowing again, and to help get the lives of Long Islanders back on track after a very difficult week."

In her statement, McCarthy also acknowledged that there are still ballots to be counted, but said she was "confident" the results would show that the people have entrusted her with another term "to fight for them in Washington."

She thanked her supporters, staff, family and constiuents, and said she "looks forward to working with everyone in [her] district, including [her] opponents in this election, to serve the people of Long Island.”

It's the second time McCarthy defeated Becker in a Congressional race. She outdistanced him in 2010 by a 89,828-77,483 margin.

Becker is a long-time Lynbrook resident and graduate of Lynbrook HS. He is the first elected representative of the 6th Legislative District in the Nassau County Legislature, and has been re-elected for nine consecutive terms. Becker won re-election in 2011 over Democrat Anthony Gonzalez, capturing 69 percent of the vote.

McCarthy has been serving in Congress since 1996, when she ran on a gun control platform she launched after her son was injured and husband killed in the 1993 massacre on the Long Island Rail Road.

In her first eight terms she has sponsored the National Instant Criminal Background Check Database (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act, gun legislation signed into law by President Bush in 2008; and the Serve America Act and the Civil Rights Oral History Project, both signed into law by President Obama in 2009.

The 4th Congressional District includes Baldwin, East Meadow, East Rockaway, Elmont, the Five Towns, Lynbrook, Floral Park, Franklin Square, Garden City, Hempstead, Malverne, Mineola, Carle Place, New Hyde Park, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, Uniondale, Valley Stream, West Hempstead, Bellmore, Merrick, Long Beach and Westbury.