Padavan-Gennaro Contest Finally Drawing To A Close

It has been quite some time since any news has come out of the 11th Senate District. Padavan had the lead last time it was checked and Gennaro was trying to get as many eligible votes counted as he could. Yesterday the Board of Elections granted Jim that wish, but whether or not the remaining ballots holds enough Gennaro votes to overcome Frank's lead...well, let's just say it looks highly doubtful.

From The Daily Politics:

Depending on how long the count takes - and there have been conflicting reports as to exactly how many ballots are out there, but it's somewhere between 1,700 and 2,700 - this contest could be a contender for the title of longest-running undecided legislative race in modern history.

The record to date is the 2004 Spano-Stewart-Cousins race, in which Spano wasn't declared the winner until Feb. 8 of 2005 - and then by just 18 votes.

Republican Frank Padavan, who was the incumbent GOP senator when this whole mess started, has a lead of several hundred votes - perhaps as many as 500 - over his Democratic challenger, Councilman Jim Gennaro.

So yeah, it is a longshot, but stranger things have happened in politics before. Regardless though if Padavan pulls through, the contest is a clear indicator that Padavan is vulnerable and the district is nearly ready to change. With a stronger challenge, especially if the DSCC backs the Democrat in the race like they did for Foley and Addabbo, this is another pick-up opportunity for the state party.