While much of the focus on the state level has been on the tight battle for control of the state Senate, Assembly Democrats quietly had themselves a strong night Tuesday.

^[1]The Democratic majority appears to have picked up an additional five seats in the 150-seat chamber, while one race on Long Island is headed for recounts and absentee ballots.

The Democrats ousted two Republican incumbents—Bob Castelli of Goldens Bridge, Westchester County, and Bob Miller of Onondaga County—while picking up three open seats. In Suffolk County, Assemblyman Dean Murray holds an unofficial lead of 36 votes over Edward Hennessey, with paper ballots still to be counted.

If Murray’s lead holds, the Democrats would have a 106-44 edge in the Assembly. That would give Democrats a “veto proof” majority, since it take a two-thirds vote to overturn a governor’s veto of legislation.

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua, Ontario County, said it was a “good night given the climate we’re in,” referring to New York’s 2-to-1 Democratic enrollment edge. The GOP was able to hold 7 of 9 vacant seats that were previously held by a Republican, Kolb said.

“We’re fighting hard,” Kolb said Wednesday. “If you look at our success over the last two cycles, we’ve done very well and we will continue to do well in what is a very blue state.”

The five seats picked up by Democrats include:

• The 93rd Assembly district in Westchester County, where David Buchwald defeated incumbent Castelli.


• The 99th district, where Woodbury councilman James Skoufis topped Goshen mayor Kyle Roddy


• The 22nd district, a newly drawn seat won by Michaelle Solanges.


• The 111th district, won by Schenectady legislator Angelo Santabarbara after Assemblyman George Amedore left for a Senate run.


• The 127th district, where former Assemblyman Al Stirpe defeated incumbent Don Miller in central New York.