The results are in and in the local races, the incumbents once again prevailed, although New York State will have a new Democratic governor and a new attorney general.

In the federal races, Democratic incumbent Hillary Rodham Clinton easily defeated Republican challenger John Spencer by a 211,967 to 135,001 margin to retain her seat on the United States Senate.

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy easily defeated Republican challenger Marty Blessinger by a margin of 98,011 to 53,277 in the 4th Congressional District. McCarthy, the Democratic incumbent who went to Congress after her husband was murdered on the Long Island Rail Road, will now serve in a Democratic majority in Congress as the Democrats gained control of the House for the first time since 1994.

With Governor George Pataki deciding not to run for re-election, New York State residents knew they would be getting a new governor and as expected, they elected Attorney General Elliot Spitzer. The Democrat easily defeated Republican John Faso by a 224,237 to 117,815.

Since Spitzer did not run for re-election for attorney general, the state will also have a new person to fill that post and it will be Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who defeated Jeanine Pirro by a 184,678 to 156,953 margin.

In the race for State Comptroller, although plagued by questions of ethics, Democratic incumbent Alan Hevesi was re-elected as State Comptroller. He defeated Republican challenger J. Christopher Callaghan by a 180,071 to 145,308 margin.

In the local races, the incumbents retained their seats as expected. Republican Assemblyman Tom Alfano of North Valley Stream easily defeated Democratic challenger Alfred Cooper in the 21st Assembly District by a 20,198 to 10,981 margin.

In the New York State Senate, Republican incumbent Michael Balboni defeated Democratic challenger Joseph Hand by a comfortable margin of 42,198 to 30,768 in the 7th Senate District and Republican incumbent Dean Skelos easily defeated Democratic challenger Odelia Golberg by a margin of 51,533 to 29,436 in the 9th Senate District.

In addition, Nassau County voters approved the open space proposition by a 116,176 to 34,342 margin. The charter amendment will set up an environmental fund to be paid off through a dedicated tax, which is estimated to cost the average taxpayer about $16 a year for 20 years. An advisory panel of experts will recommend to the county a list of open space parcels for purchase and park, water resource and other environmental improvements with proceeds from the new bond. The County Legislature's approval is required before the new purchases of land are finalized.