There are 197,473 registered Republicans in the district, 114,738 Democrats and 110,506 independents, according to the state Board of Elections.

Sweeney has been at the center of controversy the past week over published reports that his wife called 911 on Dec. 2, 2005, to report the congressman was physically abusing her.

The congressman and his wife both said a State Police document leaked to several newspapers was fabricated.

They acknowledged that State Police visited their home that night, but said it was not a case of domestic violence.

Political analysts regarded the high-profile race as one of the nastiest in the country.

Gillibrand hammered away at Sweeney's connections with lobbyists, including ski trips earlier this year to Utah and Lake Placid, and a trip to Northern Marianas islands.

Sweeney repeatedly portrayed Gillibrand as an elite New York City liberal with no experience as an elected official.

Gillibrand, who grew up in Albany, did live in New York City for a time, but she and her husband moved full-time to Greenport, located just outside the Columbia County city of Hudson, in 2004.