Updated local election results -- Hoblock concedes, Mahan, Owens, Alcombright, Ruberto win

Updated 10:20 a.m.:

Find complete local election results by clicking here.

Colonie: Mahan to continue as supervisor

Incumbent Democrat Paula Mahan has won the race for town supervisor. Republican Mike Hoblock confirmed to Steve Flamisch that he conceded before 11 p.m.

The town's finances -- and massive budget deficit -- are likely to be deciding factors in this race.

This is Mahan's first term. Hoblock has served as Albany County executive and as a state lawmaker.

Former Colonie Supervisor Mary Brizzell weighs in on the 2009 race -- see her analysis here.

***

In Saratoga Springs, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, Republican Scott Johnson has 59 percent of the vote over Democrat Ronald Kim.

The city is facing a massive deficit -- the possibility of a tax hike and the prospect of public safety layoffs.

***

Pittsfield Mayor Jim Ruberto won another term by only 209 votes over City Councilor Daniel Bianchi. Ruberto earned 6,658 votes to Bianchi's 6,449 despite Bianchi's victory in 10 of the city's 14 wards, according to the Berkshire Eagle.

***

City Councilor Richard Alcombright has won the North Adams mayoral contest, ousting John Barrett III, who served as mayor for 26 years.

Alcombright won all five wards, taking 3,046 votes to Barrett's 2,166, according to the Berkshire Eagle and Alcombright's campaign website.

***

Voters send message to Obama

Two Democratic governor's seats switched parties as voters took their concerns about the economy and the political establishment into the voting booth yesterday.

Independents who had supported President Barack Obama last year broke heavily for Republicans, and the coalition of younger, minority voters who vaulted Obama to victory was replaced by voters noticeably whiter -- especially in Virginia, where the Democratic candidate for governor lost in a landslide.

But even Republicans were not immune from voter ire.

Democrats took control of a sprawling Congressional district in upstate New York that has been GOP for decades, and also took an open seat in Northern California.

***

Democrat wins House race in northern NY

Democrat Bill Owens has captured the special election for a New York congressional seat that became a fight over the identity of the Republican Party.

Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Republican Dierdre

Scozzafava in the heavily Republican 23rd congressional District in rural northern New York. Scozzafava abruptly withdrew Saturday and supported Owens.

Hoffman has conceded the race.

With 88 percent of the precincts reporting, Owens had 49 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Hoffman. Scozzafava had 6 percent.

The race has been getting national attention, with some calling it a referendum on President Barack Obama and others saying it could help Republicans focus their message to attract more people to the party.

***

NY voters OK land swap, inmate work

Voters across New York have overwhelmingly approved a minor land swap in a remote northwestern corner of the Adirondacks in one of two statewide ballot propositions.

In the other, they authorized the state to allow inmates to do volunteer work for nonprofit groups.

In return for six acres that National Grid is already using for a new power line in the town of Colton, the state will get 43 acres of the utility's land, also in St. Lawrence County. It's a deal municipal officials, environmentalists and businesses supported.

Without this deal, the company would have to run a power line through ancient forest land. Environmental groups found the land swap preferable to threatening old-growth woodlands.

The election results aren't official, but both measures had strong support among voters Tuesday.

***

Bloomberg wins 3rd term as NYC mayor

NEW YORK CITY -- Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has narrowly won a third term as New York mayor in a race that was startlingly close.

With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Bloomberg was leading Democrat William Thompson Jr. 50.5 percent to 46.2 percent.

The richest man in New York fended off Thompson, who had tried to stoke voter resentment over the way Bloomberg changed the city's term-limits law so he could stay in office.

Thompson won big in black and Hispanic neighborhoods. This after Bloomberg spent more than $100 million on the most expensive self-financed campaign in U.S. history.

Thompson relied on donations and matching funds for his mayoral bid and probably spent about one-tenth of Bloomberg's total.

Bloomberg's margin of victory was far smaller than his nearly 20-point blowout in 2005.

***

Republican Christie captures NJ governor's seat

TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has conceded in his tough re-election bid against Republican Chris Christie.

Corzine says he called Christie just before 11 p.m. Tuesday "and congratulated him on becoming New Jersey's next governor."

He pledged to work with Christie to ensure a smooth transition.

The 47-year-old Christie is a former federal prosecutor. Many voters were disenchanted with Corzine in New Jersey, home to the nation's highest property taxes.

Corzine lost despite spending much of his fortune on the campaign and getting help from Democratic stars including President Barack Obama.

Christie accepted public financing and was outspent by more than $12 million.

With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Christie had 49 percent of the vote to Corzine's 44 percent.

***

GOP wins Virginia gov. race a year after Obama won state

RICHMOND, Va. -- Republican Bob McDonnell has easily won the Virginia governor's race just a year after the state went overwhelmingly for President Barack Obama and the Democrats.

Unofficial results show the former attorney general defeating Creigh Deeds and returning a Republican to the governor's office for the first time in eight years.

This race and the contest for governor of New Jersey are viewed as the first referendum on the president and the Democratic Congress before the 2010 mid-term elections.

A year ago, Obama became the first Democrat in 44 years to carry Virginia in a presidential race.

This time voters expressed angst about major Obama initiatives such as health care, energy and stimulus spending. But McDonnell dominated the campaign's central issues: jobs and the economy.

***

Gay-marriage foes take slight lead in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine -- Gay marriage is losing by a slim margin in a closely watched referendum in Maine.

With 417 of 608 precincts reporting, 52 percent were opposed to same-sex marriage and 48 percent were in favor.

The voters are deciding whether to repeal or affirm a state law that would allow gay couples to wed. The law was passed by the Maine Legislature in May but never took effect because of a petition drive by conservatives.

Gay marriage has never won at the ballot box in any state. A victory for the gay-rights side could energize activists nationwide and blunt conservative claims that same-sex marriage is being foisted on states by judges or lawmakers over the will of the public.