The winners have been declared in the primary election for the 19th Congressional District. Former Assembly Majority Leader John Faso will represent the Republicans.
Faso beat out Andrew Heaney, a small business owner from Dutchess County, despite issues with the ballots in Columbia County. That's where a third candidate, Robert Bush, was still listed on the ballot, forcing Board of Elections officials to count those ballots by hand.
Faso will now face Democrat Zephyr Teachout in the general election. In a speech Tuesday night, Faso reminded supporters why he's the best candidate to serve the 19th District.
"I've lived here 33 years," he said. "Mary Frances and I have built our lives and our families; this is our version of the American Dream. Our Democratic candidate just parachuted in from Brooklyn."