Republican Vickie Paladino Declares Bayside Council Race Victory

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Republican Vickie Paladino declared victory for a second time in a neck-and-neck Bayside Council race on Tuesday as mail-in ballot tallies rolled in.

Paladino has lead Democrat Tony Avella by 1,653 votes in the race to represent Bayside's District 19 since Election Day on Nov. 2, according to the city's unofficial results. The following morning, Paladino declared victory in the race, although outlets determined that the race was too-close-to-call, meaning official results would come down to absentee ballots.

The Board of Elections began tabulating the district's 2,647 absentee ballots on Monday, prompting Paladino to declare victory again on Tuesday, after ballot totals revealed that it's unlikely Avella will make up his vote gap.

"After two long days at Board of Elections overseeing the absentee ballot tally, we can confirm that our election night victory will stand," Paladino announced. Avella, however, has not publicly conceded and election results won't be certified by the BOE until Nov. 30, a spokesperson told The City.

Paladino, and others, though are already celebrating her apparent victory.

Commonpoint Queens included Paladino in its lineup of candidate-elect meet-and-greets, and the New York Young Republican Club hosted a victory event for her on Tuesday; a shindig that did not make headlines like a maskless, indoor holiday party that Paladino attended last winter.

"We now look forward to the transition and beginning the hard work of delivering on our agenda to the community," Paladino said in her victory statement.

If the BOE ultimately declares Paladino the District 19 Council Woman-elect, the total number of Republicans in the 51-member Council would rise from three to five; part of a red wave in this year's City Council elections, especially in Queens.

Bayside's Council race is one of three close Council contests where outstanding absentee votes will determine the election; the other two are in Brooklyn's District 43 and 47.

In both of those races, however, the Democratic candidates declared victory following the release of the absentee ballot tally.

Related Article: Counting Of Ballots To Decide Bayside's Council Race Now Underway