A sixth Democratic House seat in New York fell to Republicans on Tuesday when freshman incumbent Dan Maffei conceded he could not overcome his opponent's narrow lead.
The Republican, Ann Marie Buerkle, will be the first woman to represent central New York's 25th Congressional District.
Maffei, who defeated Dale Sweetland to win the seat in 2008, called Buerkle to concede Tuesday, ending three weeks of ballot inspections, recounting and court wrangling.
"I want to thank him for doing what is in the best interests of the district," she told the Syracuse Post Standard. They agreed to work together for a "seamless transition."
Until the newly elected Representatives take over in January, Democrats still hold control of the House of Representatives during the lame duck session.
More about a Gallup poll of Americans telling Congress what their priorities are for the lame duck session in a previous post.
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