After a murketing mailer campaign that used sexy gay imagery and off-color euphemisms as well as a disco-themed mailer (he also co-sponsored a measure that would reduce penalties for marijuana possession, but the bill was dead on arrival), New York State Senator Mark Grisanti won his primary in a landslide after voting in favor of marriage equality. People across the country have been looking at this primary since four New York Republicans were the deciding factor in passing marriage equality in 2011 and conservatives have targeted them, causing the primary to get a bit dirty.
The two other Republicans, Sens. Stephen Saland of Poughkeepsie and Roy McDonald of Saratoga County, also faced primaries, but those elections were too close to call on Thursday. James Alesi, the fourth Republican who voted in favor of marriage equality, retired.
As The Advocate reports: "Grisanti could face a challenging general election in his Erie County district where the majority of voters are Democrats. His Democratic opponent will be Mike Amodeo, who also supports marriage equality. Chuck Swanick, who opposes the issue and has been endorsed by the National Organization for Marriage, will run on the Conservative Party line that was denied Grisanti in part because of his marriage vote, making for a three-way contest."
