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Democrat Murphy Wins House Race

(AP Photo/Tim Roske)
Democrat Scott Murphy has won his battle against Republican Jim Tedisco and will become the Congressman from New York's 20th Congressional District.

Tedisco this afternoon conceded the seat and promised to work with his former rival, according to the Associated Press.

Murphy and Tedisco were vying for the seat vacated by New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who was appointed to the Senate by New York Gov. David Paterson after Hillary Clinton became Secretary Of State.

Both parties looked to the race as an opportunity to make a case as to the national mood, as it took place in a district that broke for Mr. Obama in November but where Republicans outnumber Democrats 196,000 to 125,000.

Republicans hoped a Tedisco win could be spun as a repudiation of the Obama administration; Democrats hoped a Murphy rout could be used as evidence that the country is firmly behind the Democratic agenda. The race turned out to be too close to call on Election Day, however, diluting such arguments.

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