Donovan Wins, Keeps New York City Seat in GOP Hands

Daniel Donovan easily won a special election to replace Rep. Michael Grimm on Tuesday, keeping a New York City swing congressional seat in Republican hands.
According to The Associated Press, Donovan, the Staten Island district attorney, was leading his Democratic opponent, City Councilman Vincent Gentile, 60 percent to 38 percent in the returns on Tuesday night, with 96 percent of precincts reporting.
Voters had just reelected Grimm, who had represented the district since 2011, in a landslide last November in spite of a 20-count federal indictment against him. He resigned shortly after pleading guilty to one count of felony tax fraud in December.
Donovan’s public profile rose late last year after his office presented the case surrounding the death of Eric Garner to a grand jury. The grand jury’s decision not to indict the police officers involved in Garner’s death ignited protests across the country, and some national Republicans worried that Donovan’s candidacy might turn the special election into a headache for the party.