Tom Suozzi's dream of becoming state governor ended on Tuesday night when, as expected, Attorney General Elliot Spitzer easily defeated him in the Democratic primary.

With 99 percent of the election district reporting, Spitzer collected 570,205 votes (81 percent) to Suozzi's 135,740 (19 percent). The Nassau County Board of Elections website reports that for the county, Spitzer collected 25,869 to Suozzi's 17,895.

Suozzi believed he could best help residents by becoming governor and fixing a state government, which he called "rotten to the core." But, as Attorney General, Spitzer already had statewide name recognition and was seen as the candidate needed to reform Albany.

"This will take time, this will take effort, and this will require commitment on the part of every single New Yorker. In the days and weeks ahead you will hear me say that the road to a better future requires hard choices and sacrifices of all of us. In this great endeavor, we will be joined together by our efforts; collectively sharing both the burden and the great reward," said Spitzer in his remarks following his victory.

Suozzi said he now would endorse Spitzer for governor. "Our light must continue to burn bright until every elected official in our state realizes that the people of Long Island and throughout our state will no longer accept the outrageous property taxes being forced down upon us from Albany," he said in his remarks following his defeat.

Suozzi's quest for governor may have been thwarted, but it wasn't from a lack of effort. He campaigned throughout the state in the months leading up to the primary. He said he got into the race for governor, not to get a job, but to do a job. Of course, Suozzi still has a job. He has three years left on his term as Nassau County Executive. However, he has said that he would not run for re-election and that this current term is his last.

In another statewide primary, Andrew Cuomo won the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Spitzer will now face Republican candidate John Faso for governor.

- Joe Rizza