What you didn’t see on TV. (Inside peek: Election Night)
The highs, the lows, the emotional thrill. What our candidates put themselves through for the chance to serve YOU in public office.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — It was a great night for Democrats…in other parts of the country. At home, it was One Saratoga — mostly Republican-endorsed candidates — who had a big night, winning five of seven of their elections. Congrats to all!
And I do mean “all.”
Every single candidate — winners and losers — stepped up and agreed to the emotional roller-coaster that is a campaign.
And as you’re about to see, they all really go through it — all for the chance to serve US in public office.
Tidy mayor/commissioner results from WAMC:
Independent One Saratoga, Republican candidates win big in Spa City elections
I split last night’s coverage with Saratoga Report’s Dan De Federicis — he stationed himself at the Inn of Saratoga with One Saratoga; I was at Putnam Place with the Dems.
Monday, Nov. 3
Early voting numbers are reported by the Board of Elections, by party.
Dems see an increase 60% of over 2023
Percentages by party are overall nearly identical
Is the early vote increase by Dems a predictor?
Tuesday, Nov. 4 VOTING DAY
7 a.m.
Candidates start to decorate Putnam Place for the Dem gathering. It’s about to be a very long day.
8 p.m. (doors open)
A pumped-up Commissioner of Accounts Dillon Moran busts through the doors of Putnam Place screaming against MAGA. Emotions are high.
8:21 p.m.
Some very early numbers are making the rounds:
Democrat: 3169
Republican: 2113
Other: 1804
The “other” category is so big that it doesn’t assuage nerves on either side.
8:49 p.m.
I get a text from a source at One Saratoga: “I feel like I’m going to puke.”
8:51 p.m.
I get a text from someone else at One Saratoga: “I’ve been a wreck the whole day.”
9 p.m.
Former Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub leaves Morrissey’s to make his rounds at Dem headquarters. He is immediately surrounded upon arrival.
Skidmore poli sci prof Bob Turner’s Real Democracy class arrives at the Brookmere and then the Inn at Saratoga for the GOP and One Saratoga viewing parties.
Make your voice heard — participate in the following elections survey for these eager students. The results will be shared in a public forum after the election, and the data is used by the college’s Real Democracy class, shown here.
To take the survey, visit skidmore.qualtrics.com.
9:16 p.m.
Some Dem-friendly results from an early district spark what would be the only (albeit light) cheering of the night at Putnam Place.
9:21 p.m.
District 17 results come in from Dan. I ask him if people at Inn at Saratoga seem as nervous as my constant text stream suggests. He’s interested only in the data, a calming force.
9:28 p.m.
Dem mayoral candidate Michele Madigan is fighting a headache and Matthew from her team asks me for Advil. “My mom taught me to always ask women,” he says, as I hand him something from my purse. Truth.
9:41
One Saratoga Commissioner of Accounts candidate Jess Troisi is starting to show a clear lead over incumbent Moran.
9:48 p.m.
Apple News Alert reports Zohran Mamdani is projected to win the headline-stealing NYC mayoral race. But nobody’s talking about it at Putnam.
9:51 p.m.
Results that had been slowly playing on Putnam Place’s oversized screen go down. Thanks to my partnership with Dan and Saratoga Report, I’m able to get the numbers and share. People begin to look disheartened.
I share a moment with Pat Tuz over the excitement of Virginia and New Jersey projecting historic wins for female governors.
10:00 p.m.
With 12 out of 25 Districts reporting mayoral incumbent John Safford having a clear lead over Madigan, she goes on live TV looking upbeat and poised.
10:30
Turner’s Skidmore students arrive at Putnam Place and surround Madigan.
Commissioner of Finance candidate Shafer Gaston is stoic, barely speaking to anyone as he stands around.
10:40
Golub is asked, “How does it feel to not have to do this anymore?” He answers, “Wonderful — I can leave when I want.” He leaves.
Saratoga Springs Supervisor candidate (two are elected) Minita Sanghvi makes her rounds. She’s been quietly talking to supporters all evening and will end up being the only winner in attendance at Putnam Place.
Supervisor candidate Sarah Burger’s lead over both Sanghvi and George Ehinger is great enough for her to be projected to win one of the two spots.
10:50 p.m.
Moran takes the stage to try to instill a last drop of hope for the Dems still in the building. “All of the votes are sitting in a car waiting for the last two districts to bring themselves in,” he says. “They’ll be here soon. We know the macro numbers. We know what’s happened tonight…Let’s be tempered.”
10:51 p.m.
People start to leave Putnam Place, defeated.
“It was a close race, and I’m happy about that,” says photographer Cathy Duffy, with a great attitude.
Emotions fray as the numbers start to look bleak. Moran is becoming more red-faced as he storms through the crowd, Gaston doesn’t say a word, and Madigan is clearly having a rough time. In all, it is tough to watch.
11 p.m.
I go live with Dan. He has to move outside because the celebratory music (AC/DC) has gotten so loud at Inn at Saratoga, a far cry from the soft classic rock playing at Putnam. A phone call from a source knocks me off the air. I’m told on that call that most of One Saratoga has declared.
I head home.
11:30 p.m.
The Skidmore students return to One Saratoga to congratulate the winners.
“I’m hooked on local elections for life,” one of the students tells her professor. “I felt like my work is done,” he tells me.
12:30 a.m.
The last of the Dem stragglers leave Putnam Place, sad — and surprised that a visibly upset Madigan didn’t speak at all. “She was struggling,” someone in the late-night crew tells me. “She had a speech ready but fell apart. Everyone felt so bad for her. She’d been in service for so long.”
Great take on the night Abby!! Thx.
This is great, I feel like I was there!