Tracy Mitrano

Democratic Candidate Tracy Mitrano announced opponent Max Della Pia has conceded in the 23rd Congressional District Democratic primary. Mitrano’s next opponent: Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning.

“This late afternoon, Max Della Pia called me to concede the NY-23 Democratic Primary,” Mitrano’s official Facebook page read Tuesday. “I thanked Max for stepping up to run and mobilizing a strong base of supporters.”

Mitrano continued on her Facebook post to thank her opponents with specific aspects of each candidate’s campaign. She called for the 23rd Congressional District to come together before the November election.

“Now is the time to heal this district,” Mitrano’s post read. “What we have in common is far greater than that which divides us.”After the 23rd Congressional District Democratic primary was too close to call between Max Della Pia and Mitrano on election night, candidates were tasked with patiently waiting until absentees ballots were counted. On election night, Della Pia held a 26-vote lead over Mitrano with 7,022 to 6,996 votes tallied for both candidates, respectively.

Norman Green, Chautauqua County democratic elections commissioner, believed the winner would be announced as Mitrano as well.

When asked if Green was confident Mitrano would be declared the winner, he said “yes.”

Additionally, Della Pia’s official page also announced his own concession and Mitrano’s victory.

“I would like to congratulate Tracy Mitrano on her victory in the Democratic Primary. Although the final results of the primary election will not be certified until at least Thursday, it has become clear that the absentee ballots did not break in our favor,” Della Pia’s Facebook page read Tuesday. “I believe it is important to begin the work of uniting as a party as soon as possible: that is why I am making this announcement this evening. I pledge to her my full support to ensure she defeats Tom Reed this fall.”

With knowledge of the election results in the “big counties” – which Green cited as being Tompkins, Chautauqua and Chemung counties – he said Mitrano would be the winner.

“(Mitrano) won by a small amount in Tompkins County,” Green said.

On election night, Della Pia held a 507-vote lead of 3,383 to 2,876 in Tompkins County.

According to Green, absentee votes generally mirror the election night results similar to the results in Chautauqua County. Mitrano held the lead in Chautauqua County with a total 983 votes on election night. Edward Sundquist, a local Jamestown candidate, was close behind in second place with 737 votes and Della Pia in third place with 694. On Tuesday, the county released the official results after the absentee and affidavit ballots were counted. Mitrano maintained the lead with 1,064, Sundquist remained in second with 803 and Della Pia in third with 709 votes.

But Green said this trend did not hold true in Tompkins County.

“It’s pretty obvious that he (Della Pia) didn’t win,” Green said.

The democratic election official said Della Pia only won his home county of Tioga, where he held a lead on election night.

Green estimated the official results wouldn’t be made public until some time next week.

If the announcements of Mitrano’s victory hold true, she will take on Reed in November. Additionally, Mitrano will have emerged victorious ahead of Della Pia, Sundquist, Ian Golden and Linda Andrei.

While conceding to Mitrano, Della Pia called for unity in the forthcoming election. His Facebook page thanked his family, staff and supporters and immediately called for unification within the district.

“Here’s the bottom line, folks-unless we all commit ourselves to work together and put all our shoulders to the wheel to win, all of our efforts up until now will be for naught,” his post continued. “We are all better candidates because of each other. Each one of us. Now, working together, we can make a stronger, better party that can and must win in November.”