Hayworth Declares Victory in GOP Primary for 19th Congressional District; Di Carlo Concedes

n front of an enthusiastic crowd of family, friends and other supporters, Mount Kisco ophamalogist Nan Hayworth declared victory over Southeast resident Neil Di Carlo in the Republican primary for her Congressional bid in New York's 19th district.

She announced shortly after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night at a rally at the Carmel VFW hall.

"We are ready to have a change in leadership, in this district, in Washington and across the country, and we will do it together," she said, triumphant with the results. Her speech was interspered with chants from supporters of "Go, Nan, Go!"

Hayworth is looking ahead, and said that she plans to meet with Congressional Republicans tomorrow in Washington, D.C. As her rally winded down, her message to supporters was to get sleep, noting what's to come.

"Please get some rest. Get a lot of food, because we've got a big job ahead of us."

By 1:30 a.m., Di Carlo had conceded.

"The voters have spoken and I accept their decision," he said. "My family and I are blessed and thankful for all the support we received today."

Bedford GOP Chairman Don Scott said that Hayworth was a smart choice.

"She's not a politician and she's in this race for all the right reasons. I think she has a great chance against John Hall—her ideas about government taxing too much, borrowing too much and spending too much resonate with voters," he said.

Numbers from the county boards in other parts of the Congressional district show similar leading margins. Unofficial numbers in Putnam County show that she has won the county, 63.6 percent to 36.2 percent, with all districts in. She has also won in Dutchess County, with unofficial votes showing a lead of 73.5 percent of the vote to 26.4 percent, with all districts in. She also won Rockland County, 59.6 percent to 35.2 percent, from unofficial numbers. In Orange Cointy, the numbers are roughly 73.4 percent to about 26.5 percent, with 93 percent of districts in. Results for Rockland County show Hayworth leading with roughly 60 percent to 34 percent, with 72.22 percent of districts in.

Hayworth is running to unseat Congressman John Hall, a Dutchess County resident who is running for his third term in the House of Representatives. He was first elected in 2006 when he defeated then-Congresswoman Sue Kelly, a Republican, in a year in which Democrats took control of both houses of Congress from the Republicans.

This year, the roles between the parties in the district have reversed, and the race New York's 19th Congressional district is competitive. The Cook Political Report lists the race as a "toss up," along with 48 other House seats. A poll released Tuesday from Public Policy Polling, taken on behalf of Daily Kos - a liberal political blog - shows Hayworth beating Hall 44 percent to 42 percent.

The 19th district in is made up of northern Westchester - including Mount Kisco, Bedford and Yorktown - all of Putnam County, southern Dutchess County, most of Orange County and a northern portion of Rockland County.

Officials from Congressman John Hall's campaign said that they were not prepared to comment on the results.