By Leslie Albrecht
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — State Senator Tom Duane cruised to a seventh term Tuesday night, defeating Republican challenger Joseph Mendola in the race for the 29th District.
Duane won 85 percent of the vote, while Mendola captured 15 percent, according to the New York Times.
Duane was first elected to the State Senate in 1998. One of a handful of openly gay state legislators, Duane introduced a bill to legalize gay marriage in 2009. The bill was defeated.
During his time in the senate, Duane has helped pass the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, and the Hate Crimes Protection Act, which increases penalties for hate crimes.
Mendola, 48, said on his campaign website that Duane hasn't done enough to prevent the closing of St. Vincent's Hospital and described Duane as "tax happy" because of his support of a tax on soda.
The 29th District includes parts of the Upper West Side, Clinton, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, and Union Square.
