Election Results 2022: Hochul declares victory in New York governor's race, Zeldin concedes

Lee Zeldin says he has congratulated Hochul on her election. 

"I would like to congratulate New York Governor Kathy Hochul on her election to a full four year term," Zeldin wrote. 

Touting his success in the polls in a traditionally blue New York, Zeldin had a message for Democrats. 

"Those controlling Albany should take note. New Yorkers of all walks of life are sick of the attacks on their wallets, their safety, their freedoms and the quality of their kids' education and hitting their breaking point, as proven by these results. As they take office in January, Governor Kathy Hochul and those controlling Albany must address the grave concerns voiced by the voters. 

It was a history-making election on Tuesday as voters broke the glass ceiling and made Kathy Hochul the first woman ever elected governor of New York.

Hochul is the projected winner with 53 percent of the vote, but Congressman Lee Zeldin has not conceded. He said on Tuesday night that he was going to wait until every last vote was counted.

However, sources told CBS2 that Zeldin is expected to concede the election later Wednesday.

Based on the projected results, Hochul won only 13 of the state's 62 counties, but she prevailed where it counted -- in every borough of New York City, except Staten Island, and in Westchester County, Albany, Buffalo, Syracuse. And in winning, she made it clear she thinks voters want more than Zeldin's promise to cut crime, CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported.

"The lesson of tonight's victory are that given the choice, New Yorkers refused to go backwards on our long march toward progress," Hochul said.

Read Kramer's full report here.

The Associated Press has projected Republican Anthony D'Esposito is the winner in New York's 4th Congressional District, defeating Laura Gillen on Long Island. 

D'Esposito claimed victory late Tuesday night. 

"As a young cop, I was always told that in the coldest of nights and the hottest of days, you always drive around with the windows down, because you want to hear the streets and you want to smell the streets," he said. "So know that you will have a representative in Washington, D.C. that's going to ride these streets with the windows down, so I can hear what you want."

Gillen conceded Wednesday, sharing the following statement:

We ran a campaign to be proud in a challenging political environment. Together, we motivated thousands of Long Islanders to make their voices heard, to stand up for common sense leadership, and to vigorously defend fundamental rights from assault.

This has been a long, close, and hard-fought race. I know this is not the outcome we hoped for, but it has been the honor of a lifetime to have been the Democratic nominee for this district. I'm incredibly thankful for all the stories people have shared, the steadfast support I've received, and for everyone who believed in the values that animated this campaign.

Democratic Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney has conceded his race for New York's 17th District to Republican challenger Mike Lawler. 

"I don't like to lose, but my opponent won this race and he won it fair and square. That means something. So I'm going to step aside," Maloney told reporters Wednesday. "I had a good run, and I have an incredible husband who's been with me for 30 years, including right now, and we have three great kids, and we have been blessed beyond anything I could have imagined as a young man. So I'm deeply grateful for the people of the Hudson Valley for giving me their voice and their vote in Washington for 10 years."

The district covers parts of Westchester and Dutchess counties and all of Putnam and Rockland. 

Incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski conceded Wednesday to Republican challenger Tom Kean Jr. in the race for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.  

Malinowski's campaign released the following statement:

I am deeply grateful to the people of the 7th District for the honor of representing you, and I congratulate Congressman-Elect Kean.

This was a campaign of people and principles. It was, as in my other campaigns, built from the grass roots up and spoke directly to the concerns and hopes of hardworking people all across our region.

While we did as well or better than in 2020 in the communities I have represented these last four years, and I expect the results to tighten further as all votes are counted, the new district proved too much of a hurdle to overcome.

I'm gratified that across the country, Americans chose moderation over MAGA, while passing referenda protecting a woman's right to choose. Our democracy and our freedoms are in stronger shape today than many predicted. And our achievements of the last few years, from infrastructure, to health care, to fighting climate change, are more secure.

New York City voters approved all four questions on the back of the ballot.

They included $4.2 billion in bonds related to the environment statewide.

Voters also passed the adoption of a statement of values, a racial equity office, and measuring the cost of living.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis spoke with CBS2's Cindy Hsu about her reelection and offered her take on what the message is from Tuesday's elections. 

For more, watch the video above, and you can also read more about her victory over Max Rose by clicking here. 

The Associated Press projected Republican Nicholas LaLota as the winner of New York's 1st Congressional District on Long Island.

Democratic challenger Bridget Fleming conceded early Wednesday morning. Her campaign released the following statement:

I am grateful to supporters and deeply proud of my outstanding team and the campaign we ran. We focused on issues that are critically important to Long Islanders. Our fight continues, and the most important work lies ahead of us. The challenges facing our nation and Long Island communities are daunting. We must not back down from the fight to defend the freedoms that make our great country a rich, resilient and generous nation. And our history teaches us that when Americans work together, we can overcome anything.

I congratulate Nick on his win and wish him success in improving the lives of Long Islanders while he serves in Washington.

The AP is projecting Republican victories in three of Long Island's four congressional races.

There were major developments overnight in the balance of power in Washington, D.C. We hear from two political experts on where things stand.

We asked people across New York and New Jersey what issued mattered to them most, and had an expert weigh in on how they factored into the results.

In her victory speech, Gov. Kathy Hochul promised she will continue fighting for all New Yorkers, saying "New Yorkers refuse to go backwards on our long march toward progress."

Tuesday night, the Buffalo native became the first woman elected to be New York's governor. She won the office outright after taking it over back in 2021 when former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned. 

This was not an easy victory for the Democrat. In the final weeks of campaigning, the race got extremely tight. But she went on to beat her Republican competitor, Congressman Lee Zeldin, of Long Island. 

Hochul's campaign fundraising brought in more than $50 million, about double what Zeldin reported. 

Among campaign tools from that money, she used several television ads that portrayed her as a defender of abortion rights, and described Zeldin as "extreme and dangerous" because of his ties to former President Donald Trump and his vote against certifying the 2020 election results. 

Her messaging seemed to have worked, she came out on top.

"You made your voices heard loud and clear. And you made me the first woman ever elected to be the governor of the state of New York. I'm not here to make history, I'm here to make a difference," Hochul said. "And because of all of you, we'll keep making progress, breaking down barriers, breaking glass ceilings, helping New Yorkers achieve the greatness that it is capable of."

At no time in the governor's speech did she make mention of Zeldin. 

Hochul is among eight women who have won statewide elections in New York.

Although CBS News has officially called the New York governor's race for Gov. Kathy Hochul, Republican challenger Rep. Lee Zeldin has not yet conceded. 

He spoke at his Election Night watch party at Cipriani with a sense of hope the results would sway as more votes came in.

Many predicted a tight race, with Zeldin becoming a tougher than expected challenger. But he could not overcome the Democrats' sizeable registration edge in New York. In fact, Republicans have not won a statewide election since 2002.

Zeldin, with former President Donald Trump's backing, focused his campaign on violent crime and inflation. He also called for toughening the state's bail laws and declaring a crime emergency, spurring Hochul to speak more about public safety throughout her campaign. 

He has represented Eastern Long Island in Congress since 2015 and was a vocal defender of Trump during his two impeachments. 

Last night during his speech, there was no mention of losing the race. Instead, Zeldin chose to focus on what he said were many votes still left to be counted.

"You'll see all sorts of Election Day votes coming in from all across the rest of the state in areas that we have been doing great all day. So that's a little bit of the recap of where we're at," Zeldin said. "Obviously, we'd love to be out here when all the votes had been cast, but that's where we're at. There's over 1.4 million Election Day votes that are still out."

Also during his speech, Zeldin said he has no regrets for how he ran his campaign for governor, calling himself a stark contrast against Hochul. 

Incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski is facing Republican challenger Tom Kean Jr. in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. 

Early Wednesday morning, Kean Jr. had four-point lead over Malinowski.

Both candidates offered their take on the results late Tuesday night. 

"All the numbers are trending in the exact right direction. We've gone around this district, every single one of the six counties, taking our campaign directly to the voter. We were talking to them about the issues they cared about. They were talking about inflation, that was their concern, border security, energy independence. Those are the things that people were talking about, and we were listening," Kean Jr. said. "So all the numbers going in the exact right direction."

"Despite everything that has happened, despite, I don't know, probably about $20 million that has been spent in the last three years -- mostly in outside money, negative ads, trying to take this district back -- there's absolutely no question that we would have been winning without question that original district and even this district with 30,000 additional Republican voters that were added last December," said Malinowski. "Here we are, still standing. It is too close to call."

It's a competitive race for Congressional District 17 in the northern suburbs. The district covers parts of Westchester and Dutchess and all of Putnam and Rockland counties. 

With 95% of precincts reporting, Republican Mike Lawler leads Democratic Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney by two points. 

"When I got into this race just under six months ago, I knew it would be tough. I knew that a lot of people would believe it was not possible. But we are poised to not only defeat the chair of the DCC, we are poised to end Nancy Pelosi's reign as Speaker of the House," Lawler said early Wednesday morning.

Maloney has not spoken publicly just yet.

The race for Congressional District 4, covering most of Nassau County's South Shore, is still too close to call.

Early Wednesday morning, Republican Anthony D'Esposito had a four-point lead over Democrat Laura Gillen.

While the race is undecided, D'Esposito claimed victory before his supporters Tuesday night. 

"As a young cop, I was always told that in the coldest of nights and the hottest of days, you always drive around with the windows down, because you want to hear the streets and you want to smell the streets," he said. "So know that you will have a representative in Washington, D.C. that's going to ride these streets with the windows down, so I can hear what you want."

D'Esposito is a Hofstra University graduate, former NYPD detective and volunteer firefighter.

Gillen, an attorney and mother of four, was elected supervisor of Hempstead back in 2017 and instituted sweeping ethics reforms and contract bidding.

The Associated Press is projecting Republican victories in three of Long Island's four congressional races, all considered competitive this year.

In New York's 1st Congressional District, Lee Zeldin's old district, the Associated Press is projecting Republican Nicholas LaLota has won.

District 2, Republican Peter King's old seat, had a rematch between Republican incumbent Andrew Garbarino and Democrat Jackie Gordon. The Associated Press is projecting Republican Andrew Garbarino won reelection.

In New York's 3rd Congressional District, the Associated Press projects Republican George Santos has won. He was running against Democrat Robert Zimmerman, marking the first time in United States history that two openly gay congressional candidates ran against each other in a general election.

CBS News and the Associated Press project Democrat Kathy Hochul has become the first woman elected New York governor, winning the office outright that she took over in 2021 when former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned.

She defeated Republican congressman Lee Zeldin, an ally of Donald Trump who ran a campaign focused on fear of violent crime.

Click here to read the full story.

Lee Zeldin is not conceding the race. 

"There's a piece of this story still to be told. There's 1.4 million Election Day votes that are still out," Zeldin said. "So what's going to happen is that over the next couple of hours we're going to see the race get closer and closer and closer."

He went on to say he believes he's going to see "a massive victory coming out of Long Island."

"We hope that as these results come in that we'll be able to prevail," Zeldin said.

CBS News is projecting that Kathy Hochul has won election to her first full term as governor, making her the first woman ever to be elected to that office.

CBS News projects Republican Nicole Malliotakis as the winner in New York's Congressional District 11.

She went up against Democrat Max Rose.

With 91% of precincts reporting, Malliotakis led Rose 62% to 38%.

As CBS2's Ali Bauman reports, it was an early victory for Republicans on Tuesday night.

Click here to read the full story.

CBS News projects Gov. Ned Lamont has won reelection in Connecticut.

He was facing Republican challenger Bob Stefanowski.

The hacking of Suffolk County government computers months ago is having an impact on the election.

According to CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff, election officials are going to have to physically bring computer cards to the Board of Elections in Yaphank to tabulate the votes. So expect extensive delays for results to races in the county.

Read more.

CBS News is projecting that Kathy Hochul has won election to her first full term as governor. Hochul makes history as the first woman ever to be elected to that office. 

At Kathy Hochul's campaign headquarters, the crowd erupted as Hochul declared victory over Lee Zeldin. 

"Tonight, I want to speak directly to New Yorkers. Tonight, you made your voices heard loud and clear. And you made me the first woman ever elected to be the governor of the state of New York," Hochul said. "But I'm not here to make history. I'm here to make a difference." 

Hochul said she would keep "breaking down barriers, breaking glass ceilings, helping New Yorkers achieve the greatness that it is capable of." 

"This will become a place where fundamental rights are protected and women can make their own decisions about their bodies," Hochul said. "New Yorkers, I will never take for granted the trust you placed in me." 

The Associated Press projects that Democrat Mikie Sherrill has won reelection to U.S. House in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District.  

Earlier in the evening, Sen. Chuck Schumer declared victory. About half an hour later, so did Attorney General Letitia James, but there's still no clear victory in the governor's race. 

As CBS2's Marcia Kramer reports, the key question is whether Kathy Hochul can prevent Lee Zeldin from getting 30-33% of the vote in New York City. If she does that, she will make history as the first woman elected governor in the state of New York. 

Meanwhile, at Zeldin's headquarters, supporters told CBS2's Jessica Moore they have no doubt that they will win. That may be wishful thinking, but the gap is narrowing. Team Zeldin is not discouraged by the fact that Hochul still has a lead over him. They say those early votes typically skew Democratic. 

Watch more in the video above. 

There's a close race in New York's 17th Congressional District. Republicans are hoping to pick up a seat as they work to flip the House of Representatives. CBS2's Tony Aiello and Kevin Rincon report on the race between Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney and Republican Mike Lawler. 

The Associated Press has projected the following members of the U.S. House have been reelected: 

• Democrat Hakeem Jeffries wins reelection in New York's 8th Congressional District.
  
• Democrat Nydia Velazquez wins reelection in New York's 7th Congressional District.
  
• Democrat Grace Meng wins reelection in New York's 6th Congressional District.
• Democrat Yvette Clarke wins reelection in New York's 9th Congressional District.  

Click here to check complete election results.    

Democratic political strategist Javier Lacayo, Hunter College director of public policy program Basil Smikle, Robert A. George with the Bloomberg Opinion Editorial Board and Guillermo de Veyga from William Paterson University joined CBS2 to discuss races in New Jersey, including Congressional District 17.

Political analysts Robert A. George and Javier Lacayo joined CBS2 for a closer look at New York's gubernatorial race.

New York's 17th district is one of the most closely watched races in the state. The newly redrawn district covers all over Rockland and Putnam Counties and parts of Westchester and Dutchess Counties. 

Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney is trying to stave off a Republican win by Mike Lawler. Rockland Democrats are hosting a party, but the man of the moment won't be there, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported.

The Maloney campaign alerted reporters the candidate made a last-minute decision to travel to Washington, D.C., given his role as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. 

Yesterday, Maloney said his get out the vote effort and 10 years representing the Hudson Valley would win him a sixth term, but Democrats are nervous. One called it the perfect storm of redistricting, economic anxieties, a somewhat unpopular president and Gov. Kathy Hochul struggling at the top of the ticket. 

To win, Maloney needs to rack up votes in Westchester. His campaign is also keeping an eye on Hasidic communities in Rockland where influential rabbis endorsed Maloney. 

Maloney faced a competitive race in 2014 and few thought he would struggle this cycle. But redistricting, crime, the economy and midterm struggles typical for the party that controls the White House are all putting him at risk. 

Click here to check complete election results.  

The AP projects Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has won reelection to U.S. House in New York's 14th Congressional District, defeating Republican Tina Forte.

Click here to check complete election results.  

The AP projects Rep. Nicole Malliotakis has won reelection to the U.S. House, defeating Democrat Max Rose in New York's 11th district.

Click here to check complete election results.

They first went against each other two years ago when Malliotakis defeated the then-freshman Rep. Rose by six points. This time around, Malliotakis seized on voter concerns about the economy and public safety. She was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and most of New York City's police and fire unions. 

Initially, Rose had a better chance of winning during New York's redistricting process, when Democrats redrew the 11th District to include Park Slope. But after the courts intervened, the district map was restored to look very similar to the one which chose Malliotakis in 2020. 

The Associated Press has projected more winners in New York races. 

Rep. Jerrold Nadler won reelection to U.S. House in New York's 12th Congressional District. This win comes after Nadler's district lines were redrawn, putting him in contention with Carolyn Maloney. 

In other results, the AP has projected Daniel Goldman has won the 10th Congressional District.

Click here for full results across New York and New Jersey. 

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer was elected to a fifth term Tuesday, easily defeating a Republican political commentator, but will have to wait to learn whether he'll be able to keep his title as Senate majority leader.

Click here to read more.

Click here to check complete election results. 

Voters across the Tri-State Area and the nation headed to the polls Tuesday to vote in an election many experts said was the most consequential midterms in history.

Polls in Connecticut and New Jersey closed at 8 p.m., and polls in New York closed at 9 p.m.

To check the latest election results, click here.

As polls close in New York, the governor's race between incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Lee Zeldin is unexpectedly close. 

Team Hochul is guardedly optimistic, but there is an undercurrent of nervousness, CBS2's Marcia Kramer reports. 

Pundits said Hochul did not run a strong campaign, thinking she could ride the abortion issue to November when it was crime and the economy on voters' minds. 

Here's the thing. In August, Hochul was 24 points ahead and now polls show her once prohibitive lead has been erased. According to sources, the drive-by shooting at Zeldin's home made him a more sympathetic figure.

Meanwhile, everything at Zeldin's campaign headquarters is set up for victory. Champagne glasses are already lined up to celebrate, CBS2's Jessica Moore reports. 

It may be close, but Zeldin's team believes voters care about two things: crime and the economy. They said Zeldin is the best person to tackle those issues. That's why his tagline in "Save our state." 

If elected, Zeldin would be New York's first Republican governor in 20 years, since George Pataki.

Speaking of Pataki, he was spotted at the hotel across the street from Zeldin headquarters. Zeldin's camp is hoping he comes over to celebrate a victory 20 years in the making. 

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- Republicans at Tom Kean Jr. headquarters were betting on a victory party shortly after the polls closed in New Jersey on Tuesday night.

They strongly believe they can win the 7th Congressional District. They're betting on voters being unhappy with the economy.

That's what new polls are showing -- that voters are more concerned about kitchen table issues like the rising costs of everything.

Kean's campaign has focused on safety and security and blasted incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski for being soft on crime.

However, Democrats are warning if Republicans gain control of the House, women will lose their right to choose in all states.

Other polls also show that white, suburban women and some Latinos have shifted to the Republican Party.

The last time Kean and Malinowski faced each other, it took days to count the votes before Malinowski won by just over 5,000 votes. Many people in the room Tuesday night said they expect the same close race this time around, CBS2's Alice Gainer reported.

The 7th District was redrawn after the 2020 census. Redistricting favored other Democrats in the state, but not Malinowski, who is seeking a third term. The district now includes more Republican-leaning towns.

But it's worth noting that about one-third in the district are not registered with a political party.

Malinowski cast his ballot on Tuesday morning in East Amwell Township in Hunterdon County, where he said he was feeling optimistic.

"Most voters are not single-issue voters. They care about grocery price. They also care about not losing their rights. They also care about not having political violence," Malinowski said.

The candidates debated twice, duking it out over abortion access and the economy. 

The race for New York's 11th Congressional District is among the most competitive. 

It's a rematch between Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and challenger Max Rose. 

It's the only congressional swing district in New York City. It includes all of Staten Island and parts of Southern Brooklyn, while there is certainly a Republican stronghold there, experts say the race is really going to come down to voter turnout. 

It's deja vu for Malliotakis and Rose. They first went against each other two years ago when Malliotakis defeated the then-freshman Rep. Rose by six points. This time around, Malliotakis has been seizing on voter concerns about the economy and public safety. She is endorsed by former President Donald Trump and most of New York City's police and fire unions. 

Rose meantime has been trying to distance himself from fellow Democrats, though he is endorsed by local Democratic officials, as well as the teachers union. 

CBS2's Ali Bauman asked voters on Staten Island what was on their minds as they were heading into the polls. 

"The biggest issue is crime. The city is out of control and somebody's got to stop it," said voter Richard Conte. 

"Climate issues, crime, bail reform were important issues for me," said voter Jessica Green. 

"Women's rights, 100 percent," said voter Meg Accordino. 

Initially, Rose had a better chance of winning during New York's redistricting process, when Democrats redrew the 11th District to include Park Slope. But after the courts intervened, the district map was restored to look very similar to the one which chose Malliotakis in 2020. 

In Connecticut, the AP has projected that U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal has won a third term in office, fending off a challenge from first-time candidate Leora Levy, a Republican who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Blumenthal, 76, the state's former attorney general, focused much of his campaign on being a backstop for abortion rights in Connecticut and Democratic policies in Washington. Blumenthal vowed to fight any effort in Congress to impose a national abortion ban that would override Connecticut's current law. Abortion is legal in Connecticut with restrictions.

He also warned democracy would be at risk if the GOP gained control of the U.S. Senate.

"We are in a break-the-glass moment in this democracy," Blumenthal said after accepting the Democratic Party's nomination in August. "And we need to stand up to the Trump Republicans, to special interests, to anyone who would put us back in time on workers' rights, women's rights, civil rights and liberties. It is the fight of our lifetime."

In the Republican primary, Levy, 65, defeated the party's endorsed candidate, former state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, a social moderate, with the help of a late endorsement from Trump. In addition to his endorsement, Trump held a fundraiser for Levy at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida.

Levy had hoped to become the first Republican U.S. senator from Connecticut since Lowell P. Weicker Jr., who served from 1971 to 1989.

Click here to check complete election results. 

New Yorkers who headed to the polls Tuesday know this election has high stakes. 

Beyond the statewide offices there are ballot questions, a U.S. Senate seat and 26 Congressional seats on the line. 

CBS2's Dave Carlin was in New York City and Westchester County to find out what issues brought voters out.

Click here for the full story. 

Long Island's four congressional races are all considered competitive this year, with only one incumbent on the ballot.

In the 4th Congressional District, Republican Anthony D'Esposito faces Democrat Laura Gillen.

In District 1, Lee Zeldin's old district, Democrat Bridget Fleming is squaring off against Republican Nick LaLota.

District 2 is Republican Peter King's old seat. It represents parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties. It's a rematch between Republican incumbent Andrew Garbarino and Democrat Jackie Gordon. The two ran against each other in 2020.

There's a historic race in Nassau County, where Democrat Robert Zimmerman is running against Republican George Santos for New York's 3rd Congressional District. This will be the first time in United States history that two openly gay congressional candidates are running against each other in a general election.

In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont is facing Republican Bob Stefanowski, who narrowly lost to Lamont in 2018.

Lamont was out in Stamford on Tuesday morning, meeting with campaign volunteers and doing some last-minute campaigning.

The Democrat is seeking a second term and voter turnout appears to be high.

"I'm feeling good. You know why? 'Cause people are voting. I love the fact that people know their vote makes a difference here in this election and across the country," Lamont said.

Stefanowski, meanwhile, voted in Madison, New Haven County. He planned to make stops at 15 polling places to greet voters.

"So we've put everything we possibly could into this campaign. I'd be honored to have people's vote today. I ask you for your vote," he said.

The most recent Quinnipiac poll had Lamont 15 points ahead of Stefanowski.

Independent Robert Hotaling is also running.

In the race for Senate, Democrat Richard Blumenthal is defending his seat against challenger Republican Leora Levy.

Meanwhile, a ballot question asks if the state constitution should be changed to allow early voting.

Connecticut is one of only four states with no form of early voting.

If voters say yes, early voting would be in place in time for the 2024 presidential election.

A seismic shift in Congress could be ahead after Tuesday's election results. The stakes are high for both parties. CBS2's Dick Brennan has a look at the balance of power and what could happen.

New York has an unusually high number of competitive congressional races this year.

In the 17th District, Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney is facing off against Republican Mike Lawler. As CBS2's Tony Aiello reports, it's a key race as Republicans nationwide hope to win control of the House.

The breeze was brisk and turnout has been steady as voters across the newly drawn 17th Congressional District make their choice.

Maloney and his husband, Randy Florke, voted near their home in Putnam County. The congressman said he planned a quiet Election Day.

"I like to go for a hike sometimes in the woods, clear my head, and again, I think that Election Day is a day to respect the voters. We've had our chance to make our case; now, it's up to them," Maloney said.

He added he planned to spend time thanking campaign volunteers.

Maloney hasn't been in a close race since 2014, when he won by 3,000 votes. Redistricting means his district now includes many Rockland County residents he has never represented.

His campaign will be keeping a close eye on returns from Peekskill, a Democratic stronghold in northern Westchester, and from Hasidic communities in Rockland, where Maloney won the endorsement of influential rabbis.

Democratic insiders are cautiously optimistic but realistic -- this race is rated a tossup.

Because Maloney runs the Democrats' effort to keep Congress, Republicans would take great delight in knocking him out.

Maloney emphasized election integrity, abortion rights and gun control during the campaign while also arguing Democratic efforts to ease inflation are beginning to work.

It's not just redistricting that's made this a tight race. House Republicans have helped funnel in more than $8 million into the district, money largely spent on political ads.

As CBS2's Kevin Rincon reports, Lawler voted in Pearl River with his wife, Doina, and planned a day of last-minute campaigning.

"I'll be driving around the district. We have a truck with signs and just barnstorm the district and try to turn people out to vote," he said.

Throughout his campaign, he's been focused on economic issues -- things like inflation and taxes -- and he's campaigned on crime, calling for a change to bail reform laws in the state.

He says his team has seen some high turnout numbers, which he hopes will help, and if he does come out on top, it would be the first time in 42 years that a Republican beats the sitting chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Voters are no doubt anxious for the race to conclude after both sides spent almost $20 million on a barrage of attack ads.

Because a judge gave the OK to count most absentee ballots Tuesday night, instead of waiting until Wednesday, both campaigns expect to know the winner before the night is out.

It's the unanswered question of the night: Are voters in the heavily Democratic Empire State ready to elect the first Republican governor in 20 years? 

Kathy Hochul is doing everything in her power to prevent that. 

It's judgment day for Hochul. 

New York voters will tell her unequivocally whether they like the job she's done since replacing her scandal-scarred boss, Andrew Cuomo. 

With crime one of the top issues in the campaign, she talked about how New York City has made a safe comeback under her leadership. 

"I have covered every corner of the city, and there's so much electricity. People are walking the streets. They're in restaurants late at night, they're going to plays, they're going to entertainment. The city is back," Hochul said. 

Hochul is taking a new tack in her last-minute attempt to galvanize voters in an unexpectedly tight race to become the first woman actually elected governor of the Empire State. Call it reverse psychology: Telling voters that crime can't possibly be out of control if New Yorkers are once again basking in the delights of the city that never sleeps.

"I want to lead this state over the next four years, and possibly beyond, with that sense of optimism that we've not had here in a long time," Hochul said. 

Hochul, slammed for being soft on crime by Republican challenger Lee Zeldin, kept up a frenetic pace of campaigning, hoping to boost turnout in New York City, which is key to her election success. 

One sign of Democratic concern and the need to get every single voter to the polls is that Hochul, a moderate, campaigned with hard left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Woodside, Queens. In recent days, she campaigned with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former President Bill Clinton. 

Hochul also mocked Zeldin's insistence that he is the true crime fighter. 

"The difference is sound bite versus actual sound policy. It's real easy to go out on a street corner and scream about crime, but when you oppose every piece of sensible gun safety legislation that we have put forward in the state but also had a chance to stand up in Congress," Hochul said. 

Here's an inside-the-campaign tidbit. Sources tell Kramer that Hochul was concerned Zeldin got a leg up on her on the crime fron when there was a shooting near his Long Island home. It showed that even a candidate for governor was not immune from crime. 

There may be few high-stakes races in New Jersey, but voters wanted their say with the balance of power up for grabs in Washington, CBS2's Christina Fan reported Tuesday. 

It was crowded inside one polling place in Fort Lee, where few seemed satisfied with the direction the country is moving in. 

"It's time for change and the only way to do it is to show your license and vote," said Jay Blau. 

Inflation and abortion were top issues on people's minds. Global tensions also took a front seat.

"We need peaceful life. And second, we need safety. Third, we need the prices to come down because it's too much money," said Hasmik Manoukian. 

Click here for the full story. 

There's a rematch in New York's 11th Congressional District between Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis and challenger Max Rose.

As CBS2's Ali Bauman reports, it's one of the most consequential races in our area.

It's the most competitive congressional race in New York City. The 11th district includes all of Staten Island and parts of southern Brooklyn.

Both candidates can say they have won this seat before.

Democrat Max Rose took his family to the polls Tuesday as he looks to unseat Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, who already cast her ballot on the first day of early voting.

It's deja vu for the candidates. They first went against each other two years ago, when Malliotakis defeated then-freshman congressman Rose by six points.

So who are voters going for this year?

"It was Rose. I just feel like he really cares about the community and the people," Staten Island voter Destiny Abraham said.

"Of course, I voted straight down the line conservative Republican because of the devastation this current administration has perpetrated upon America," Staten Island voter Myron Walker said.

This time around, Malliotakis has been following her party's strategy, focusing on voter concerns about the economy and public safety, while Rose has been trying to distance himself from Democrats and convince voters he can forge bipartisan solutions.

"I felt like he stood for a lot of things that I personally stand for when it comes to racial injustice and things like that," Staten Island voter Jessica Green said.

"I voted for Nicole. He stood with Defund the Police, and as you can see, you can't defund the police. You're gonna lose the whole city," Staten Island voter Richard Conte said.

"Abortion rights is very important. It's a critical situation for women, so I want to vote because of that," Staten Island voter Bisi Sadiq said.

"Voting like our lives depend on it because it does," Staten Island voter Andrew Flores said.

The 11th Congressional District is the only district in New York City to have voted for former president Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020.

Staten Island definitely has a Republican stronghold, but some may be surprised to learn there are actually more registered Democrats than Republicans there, so experts say this race is really going to come down to voter turnout.

In Nassau County, passionate GOP candidate Anthony D'Esposito, of Island Park, is in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Kathleen Rice. He denies he is an "errand boy" for the National Rifle Association.

The 40-year-old was born and raised in the town of Hempstead.

Like his congressional opponent, he's a product of Catholic schools; he graduated Chaminade, then went off to Hofstra. He joined the NYPD as a cop and a detective, he's a volunteer firefighter and he's described as a proud lockstep loyal Republican.

Tuesday, the big guns came out to support him -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Congressman Lee Zeldin.

"I think it will be a great partnership. I think there's a lot of things that we can do here in Nassau County with good friends," D'Esposito said. "Abortion is an important issue, but right now, the things that people are focused on are cost of living, crime and inflation, and quite frankly, a lot of people are concerned about our open borders, as well."

Hofstra pollsters point out that climate change, abortion rights, gun safety and student loan debt reduction are top of mind among young people, but so far 18-34 year olds are not going to the polls in the same proportion in Nassau County as people in other age groups. That bodes well for Republicans.

D'Esposito hopes to be the first Republican since 1997 to win the 4th Congressional District, which encompasses southwest Nassau north to Garden City and Uniondale. Observers are wondering if the bump Democrats got from the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade in June has deflated.

CBS News Chief Election and Campaign Correspondent Robert Costa says it's been 12 years since New York had this many close House races. 

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- One of the key races that could determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives is in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.

Incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski is facing Republican challenger Tom Kean Jr., the son of a popular Garden State governor.

As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported Tuesday, the GOP is pouring millions of dollars into the race because the party believes it could win the seat.

When Malinowski faced Kean in 2020, he was won by only 8,000 votes. Since then, the district that covers parts of Union and Essex counties has been redrawn to favor Republicans.

Sloan asked voters about their concerns. One couple from Westfield said they were voting for Kean and explained why.

"Democracy and freedom to say your views and everyone listening to each other," Barbara Ruvolo said.

"Security, safety in the streets, the immigration issue," John Ruvolo added.

READ MORE: Democrat Tom Malinowski, Republican Tom Kean Jr. square off in heated debate in N.J.'s 7th Congressional District race

Others told Sloan they were voting against Republicans who've aligned themselves with former President Donald Trump -- what Malinowski has accused Kean of doing.

"I am a little concerned about putting anybody in office who could be potentially aligned with a segment that is denying the validity of our elections," a Westfield resident said.

"Economy is very important to me ... gun violence is important to me," a Scotch Plains resident added.

Malinowski is hoping abortion is the one issue that'll get voters to lean toward Democrats, like him. However, political scientist Peter Woolley said a recent Fairleigh Dickinson University poll said voters care more about the economy.

"There are a lot of people who are very upset about Roe v. Wade. There are a lot of people who are excited about it. But it doesn't seem to change the mix dramatically at all when you look at people who will be drawn to the polls because of it," Woolley said.

Both candidates have made use of political flyers during the campaign. Kean's focus on safety, rising car thefts in New Jersey and the economy, while Malinowski's say if Republicans win the House, abortion will be overturned in all states.

The last time New York elected a Republican governor was in 2002 when George Pataki won a third term.

This year's race is close, but challenger Lee Zeldin has told supporters he's confident he will win, CBS2's Jessica Moore reported Tuesday. 

"Whether it is freedom, education or making our streets safer, we came to this campaign with our values and ideals," said Zeldin. 

Zeldin kicked off Election Day by voting for himself at a polling place in Mastic Beach. With his wife by his side, the congressman spoke to a rowdy group of supporters at the Suffolk County Republican Headquarters where he continued his tough on crime message. 

"Today is a day for no excuses. Tomorrow is a day for action, to be able to get to work, to actually be able to turn things around in this state and this country," said Zeldin.

In a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans two to one, the race for governor is unexpectedly close. Zeldin has promised to tackle quality of life issues, such as crime and cost of living, facing New Yorkers. 

"There should be no mystery as to why Kathy Hochul is going to lose this race today," he added. 

Zeldin said he needs to win a third of voters in New York City, which runs six Democrats for every Republican. Political strategists say he also needs to win big in Westchester and overwhelmingly on Long Island to beat Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

"When you're running to be the governor of New York, you're running to be the governor of all New Yorkers. This is a campaign to give people their government back, to have a governor who doesn't view New Yorkers as his or her apostles," said Zeldin. "Let's go out for the hours that remain and do our part to save our state, to restore it to glory, to fire Kathy Hochul and end one party rule." 

Zeldin was on his way to Midtown Manhattan for an election viewing party.

The 4th Congressional District has been a blue seat for many years. There are far more Democrats than Republicans. 

This year, it's considered a toss up after a red wave in the suburbs last year, and because a large chunk of voters are not enrolled in any party. 

Laura Gillen is familiar to them. She was the lone Democrat to serve as Hempstead town supervisor - the largest township in America - and took on nepotism, and introduced ethics reforms. 

Now she's running for Congress, with a message that she can work with both sides of the aisle because she's done it. Her slogan: Democracy and decency is on the ballot, advocating for common sense gun laws, women's reproductive rights and reinstating the SALT tax deduction. 

"We've gotten to a place of extremism on both sides of the aisle, not talking to each other, not getting things done and I feel we need to restore civility to discourse. Also I'm worried that my 80-year-old mother will enjoy more rights than my 20-year-old daughter," Gillen said. 

The fate of the 4th Congressional District seat will have national implications. Three of four Long Island Congressional seats are open  - this is one of them, and could go either way. Control of the House could come down to fewer that 10 seats. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul filled out her ballot in Buffalo on Oct. 29, the first day of early voting in New York. Republican challenger Lee Zeldin voted on Election Day at his Long Island polling place. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul started her morning greeting commuters at the 86th Street subway station. 

As CBS2's Zinnia Maldonado reports, she's set to hit a number of different stations and diners throughout the city, working for every last vote even on Election Day.

"Election Day has arrived, and I'm calling on anyone who has not had a chance to early vote, who waited for this very magical day, to get out there and exercise your right to make a decision in a race that has the most extreme contrast we've ever seen in decades here in the state of New York for governor," Hochul said Tuesday morning. 

Hochul made her rounds throughout the Upper East Side ahead of what's set to be a busy day for the governor. She's hoping voters will elect her in her own right to a full four-year term leading the state of New York. 

It's Hochul's 14th election, but this would be the Buffalo native's first history-making win. If victorious, she becomes the first woman elected governor in New York's history. 

Although with a tight race expected against Republican challenger Lee Zeldin, political experts say Hochul needs African American voters in New York City and women to turn out in big numbers for a win. 

"It depends whether people come out upstate, in the suburbs, in the city. That's politics," said Frederick Umane, Republican Commissioner for the New York City Board of Elections. 

Those Maldonado spoke with first in line at Robert Wagner Middle School said they understand a lot is rising on Tuesday's votes. 

"I know that it's a tight race, which makes it even more important for people to show up," Upper East Side resident Isaiah Anderson said. 

"This is the first time since at least I've been a voter in the state, where it's been so important for everyone to go out and cast their ballot, because it's not so obviously going to go blue, like it has historically," said Upper East Side resident Allison Schultz. 

Hochul spent the last week campaigning hard. She met with folks on the Upper West Side and Harlem on Monday, before heading up to Buffalo where she made her closing arguments in hopes to energize voters. On Sunday, she spoke in Yonkers, joined by supporter President Joe Biden. 

Her latest remarks Tuesday morning were her job as governor isn't over yet.

"I want to lead this state into the next four years and possibly beyond with that sense of optimism that we haven't had here in a long time. I want to bring that to New Yorkers, and that's what's going to start first thing tomorrow morning," she said. 

Hochul said she's been running a marathon since August of last year when she was sworn in as governor, and she's prepared to continue running for the next four years. 

Republican Lee Zeldin held his final campaign rally in Medford, not far from his home in Shirley. 

The parking lot at Suffolk County Republican Headquarters was full of Zeldin supporters and campaign volunteers Tuesday morning, CBS2's John Dias reported. 

Zeldin continued his tough on crime messaging, galvanizing supporters before they started phone banking and door knocking. 

The race is unexpectedly close. Political strategists said Zeldin has to fight for a share of Westchester County and win overwhelmingly on Long Island in order to defeat Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

"Today is a day for no excuses. Tomorrow is a day for action, to be able to get to work, to actually be able to turn things around in this state and this country," said Zeldin. "When you're running to be the governor of New York, you're running to be the governor of all New Yorkers. This is a campaign to give people their government back, to have a governor who doesn't view New Yorkers as his or her apostles."

"There should be no mystery as to why Kathy Hochul is going to lose this race today," he added. 

Zeldin voted before the rally at his polling place in Mastic Beach. He's expected to head to another campaign location in Patchogue 

Mayor Eric Adams endorsed Hochul, but Zeldin said he'd work hand-in-hand with Adams to ensure New York City streets are safe. 

We will have a full night of election coverage on all our platforms beginning at 8 p.m. 

At 9 p.m., you can watch coverage on WLNY and streaming on CBS News New York. 

Then at 10 p.m., a full hour of analysis with our political experts streaming exclusively on CBS News New York. 

That's followed by our news at 11 on CBS2 and streaming on CBS News New York.

With so much at stake with this midterm election, some are feeling anxiety about the outcome. We hear from a psychologist for his advice.

CBS News is watching all the big races, and special coverage begins at 8 p.m. with CBS Mornings Co-Host Gayle King.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to visit a number of subway stations and diners on the Upper East Side ahead of her watch party later this evening. The governor says she's not done yet. 

This is Hochul's 14th election, but she's never had so much on the line. If she wins, she will become the first woman elected governor in the state's history. 

Monday morning, she met with folks on the Upper West Side, talking about crime and pointing out that she had her first press conference with Mayor Eric Adams on subway crime six days after she took office. 

She then hit the pavement in Harlem in hopes of energizing voters, before heading to Buffalo where she made her closing arguments before a massive crowd. 

Meanwhile on Sunday, she spoke in Yonkers, joined by supporter President Joe Biden. 

With a tight race expected, political experts say Hochul needs African American voters in New York City and she needs women to turn out in big numbers to secure a win. 

"I will not let you down, because you've never let me down. The work that you've been doing -- the tireless work, the reaching everybody, pulling them out, saying this vote matters. It matters," she told supporters in Buffalo. "I'm so grateful, so grateful for that effort. It is humbling for a daughter of Buffalo to be a governor of New York, and I thank every one of you."

She is ready for a full four-year term as the governor and she is doing everything in her power to make sure voters mark her name on the ballot. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul's Republican challenger Congressman Lee Zeldin has been focusing heavily on crime during his campaign. Zeldin says if elected, he'll work closely with Mayor Eric Adams to make the city safer.

He'll start his day voting, then head to Medford to host a rally -- his last before the polls close tonight -- to galvanize supporters. 

This race is unexpectedly close in heavily Democratic New York. Political strategists say in order for Zeldin to win, he has to fight for his share of Westchester and win Long Island overwhelmingly.

The key issues are crime and public safety. Zeldin insists crime is out of control and that in her time in office, Hochul has not been able to stop it.

But she has attacked Zeldin for rushing to crime scenes to highlight the issue. He was at a Bronx subway station where a man was stabbed in the neck Sunday to urge voters to save the state. 

He's already feeling optimistic that he and other Republicans will win. 

"There will be no regret, there will be just a sigh of relief. You all will be able to listen to hard fought and well earned victory speeches being delivered by all of your candidates," Zeldin said Monday. 

Although New York City has long been regarded as a Democratic stronghold -- nearly 70% of voters register as Democrat -- Zeldin thinks his success in the city will determine the outcome. 

While Adams has endorsed Hochul, Zeldin says he will work hand in hand with the mayor to make the streets safe again. 

CLICK HERE to find out when and where to cast your vote, as well as what's on the ballot in your area.

Watch our interviews with Zeldin and Hochul on "The Point with Marcia Kramer."  

In addition to voting for candidates, there may also be ballot questions to vote on. Not every county has them. 

In Connecticut, Hartford County will vote on city charter revisions. 

In New Jersey, there's on measure in Mercer County. Trenton voters will decide on expanding the Board of Education and if those seats should be elected or appointed. 

In New York City, there are four questions, ranging from environmental bonds to racial equity. 

CLICK HERE for our Tri-State voter guide with a sample of your ballot. 

There are four tight Congressional races on Long Island and none of them are considered a sure thing.

Three of the four are open seats, because Lee Zeldin, Tom Suozzi and Kathleen Rice all decided not to seek re-election.

CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff has more on the 4th Congressional District on Nassau County's South Shore, which is considered a toss up.

Republicans are spending big bucks to knock off powerful incumbent Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and may be in danger of losing his seat. 

All signs point to a competitive race between Maloney and GOP challenger Mike Lawler. It's rated by most pundits as a toss-up, CBS2's Tony Aiello reported Monday.