Primary Votes Close for N.Y. GOP Legislators Who Supported Gay Marriage

Absentee ballots will determine the winners

Two Republican state senators who provided pivotal votes to legalize same-sex marriage last year fought opponents to a standstill on Thursday in primary races so close that they will be decided only after absentee ballots are counted.

Senator Roy J. McDonald, of the capital region, trailed his opponent by a little more than 100 votes at the end of the night, and Senator Stephen M. Saland, of Poughkeepsie, led his opponent by just 42 votes. In both races, there were enough uncounted absentee ballots to change the outcome.