NY State Senator Kevin Thomas re-elected for a second term

New York: State Sen. Kevin Thomas, 36, on a second term from District 6 in Long Island, after counted. On election day on November 3, he was behind his Republican rival Dennis Dunne for more than 7000 votes. Not many expected that he had a chance to win considering the wide margin.
As of late Monday afternoon, Thomas (D-Levittown) had 72,284 votes and Dunne, 70,857 — a difference of 1,427, according to Newsday. Dunne conceded Monday evening.
‘I am now happy to congratulate Kevin Thomas on his reelection to the Senate from New York’s 6th senatorial district,’ Nassau County and New York State Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs said
In a statement Thomas noted that, ‘Following a very close election in 2018, I am thrilled to have won a larger margin this year, and I know that is because of my hard work fighting for this community, Long Island, and all of New York State.’
Dunne also congratulated Thomas. ‘The Senate race in the 6th District was a hard-fought contest, and I am proud of the campaign that we ran. I addressed the issues that are important to neighbors on Long Island and across our state, including public safety and taxes. At the same time, the voters have spoken, and I respect their decision. I extend my best wishes to Kevin Thomas as he embarks upon his second term in the New York State Senate.’
Voters cast absentee ballots in unprecedented numbers because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Thomas is the first Indian American to win to either houses of the New York State Legislature. In this year’s election two Indian American Democrats won to the State Assembly, Zohran Mamdani and Jennifer Rajkumar, who both got elected from Queens, where the South Asian community has a larger presence.