Thomas DiNapoli Wins Re-Election As NY Comptroller

NEW YORK — State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli easily fended off a Republican challenge from Jonathan Trichter to win a third full term on Thursday.

Di Napoli had more than 3.7 million votes, or about 64.4 percent, to Trichter's nearly 1.8 million, or about 30.7 percent, with more than 99 percent of election districts reporting, according to unofficial results from the state Board of Elections. NY1 had called the race for DiNapoli by 11:30 p.m.

DiNapoli's victory was one of four big statewide wins for New York Democrats in Tuesday's midterm elections. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand cruised to re-election, while Letitia James made history as the first black woman elected attorney general.

The race for comptroller was much quieter than others on the statewide ticket. DiNapoli has held the job for more than a decade. A poll published Sunday showed him 37 percentage points ahead of Trichter, an investment banker and registered Democrat.

The comptroller recently released a bleak report on the finances of the MTA, which Cuomo controls. Trichter argued that he would be an independent comptroller who would act as a check on inefficiency and waste.

(Lead image: Thomas DiNapoli speaks to supporters at an election night party in Manhattan on Nov. 6, 2018. Photo by Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)