Follow live election results for NY and NJ races as they come in, right here
While there were no presidential, governor or mayoral races on the ballot, many local races took place -- including the New York City Council.
One key contest that did come to a conclusion on Tuesday was the race for Suffolk County executive.
Republican Ed Romaine defeated Democrat David Calone. The two were running to replace Steve Bellone, who reached his term limit after 12 years.
With Romaine elected, Republicans will now take control of all major seats on Long Island, occupying both county executive seats, both district attorneys' offices, comptrollers' offices, and all four congressional seats.
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Here's where the other races stand across the Tri-State
New York elections
New York voters decided on a variety of races and ballot questions in general elections held across the state Tuesday.
At stake were a range of offices including the New York City Council, state Supreme Court, as well as mayors and county executives from throughout the state.
In a heavily Democratic city, most of the outcomes were forgone conclusions -- but there were a handful of races that had the potential to switch parties. That's exactly what happened with the District 19 seat in Queens.
In Whitestone, Queens, incumbent Councilmember Vickie Paladino defeated her challenger, Democrat Tony Avella, who used to hold the Council seat. During his campaign, Avella called the Republican a white supremacist and alleged that she has ties to the Proud Boys.
Another big race was in the southeast Bronx, where Democratic incumbent Marjorie Velazquez faced a challenge from Republican Kristy Marmorato. That race had yet to be called on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, one notable race had already been decided before ballots were even drawn.
Criminal justice reform activist Yusef Salaam, who was one of five men convicted and later exonerated in the "Central Park Jogger" rape case, ran unopposed, winning a seat for Harlem's District 9.
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New Jersey elections
New Jersey Democrats fended off Republican challenges in pivotal state Senate races and flipped three Assembly contests from GOP control Tuesday, buoying the party's prospects after a bleak showing in the last election.
State Sen. Vin Gopal defeated Republican Steve Dnistrian in the coastal 11th Legislative District and incumbent Andrew Zwicker beat former GOP Rep. Michael Pappas in the 16th District, which includes Princeton. Gopal's running mates Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul also defeated Republican incumbents in the same district. In Ocean County's 30th District, Rabbi Avi Schnall defeated GOP incumbent Assemblyman Edward Thomson.
That campaign was among the most heavily contested this year, and saw more political spending than any other race, according to October figures from the state's campaign finance watchdog. Zwicker's contest wasn't far behind.
Other races were too early to call.
Connecticut elections
The people of Bridgeport, Connecticut, cast their ballots for mayor Tuesday knowing there's a chance the results won't actually settle an election thrown into uncertainty by allegations of voting irregularities.
A judge last week tossed out the results of the Democratic mayoral primary and ordered a new one, citing "mishandled" absentee ballots that left the court unable to determine who won.
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That set up the most bizarre of the mayoral contests held across the state Tuesday.
Both Democrats who competed in the primary - incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim and challenger John Gomes - were on the ballot again for the general election. Then, they may have to face each other a third time in a new primary to be held at a later date. Depending on the outcome of a continuing court fight, that could then be followed by a rerun of the general election.
"This is an unprecedented situation," said Gomes' lawyer, William Bloss.
By 11:30 p.m. and with a little less than half the expected vote reported, the contest appeared to be tight, with Gomes holding a slight edge. Both Gomes and Ganim urged their supporters to be patient as the final votes were being counted.
In the mayor's race in Derby, Connecticut, a city of 12,400 people near New Haven, former Alderman Joseph DiMartino, a Democrat, beat three other candidates in a contest that highlighted a split in the Republican party.
He defeated the Republican incumbent, Mayor Richard Dziekan, Republican Alderman Gino DiGiovanni Jr., who was charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, and an unaffiliated candidate.
In New Haven, incumbent Democratic Mayor Justin Elicker easily won a third term, defeating a Republican and an independent candidate.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
ALSO READ | Here's what you need to know to vote in New York, New Jersey in 2023 election
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