More than 7,500 absentee ballots counted Monday appear to have tipped three extremely close Monroe County Legislature races in favor of Democrats, giving them 15-14 control of the legislature beginning in January.
The ballots were counted with a room full of candidates and officials from major political parties watching. Two Democratic candidates went from losing by narrow margins to winning by narrow margins, and a Democrat cemented his lead over the Republican Legislature President.
Democratic Leader Yversha Roman reversed Republican Orlando Rivera’s lead in the 26th for the win. The district covers parts of Gates, Greece and the West Side of Rochester.
Republican Legislature President Joe Carbone lost by 3446 votes to Democrat Dave Long with 3819 votes in the 16th District in Irondequoit.
And in Henrietta, Democrat Michael Yudelson reversed an election night lead by Matt Borkowski to win, 3210 to 3110.