Elections officials have opened approximately 16,600 of an estimated 30,000 absentee and affidavit ballots as the count continues at the Dutchess County Board of Elections.

Saturday was another good day for Democratic challenger Jessica Segal in her race against Republican incumbent Judge Peter Forman. Of the 4,600 ballots opened on Saturday, she won 71% of the votes counted, trimming Forman’s lead by 1,797 votes.

About seven percent of the ballots have no vote in the judicial race.

After in-person voting, Segal found herself 7,385 votes behind, needing to win just over 62% of the estimated 30,000 absentee ballots and affidavit ballots to win. Segal has won an average of 68% of the absentee and affidavit votes so far.

A Hudson Valley Observer analysis of the race estimates she will win by over 2,000 votes.

Nationwide, mail-in ballots have leaned decisively left as more Democrats voted by mail while Republicans preferred to vote in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Dutchess County, Democrats outnumbered Republicans more than two-to-one among the more than 30,000 absentee ballots returned.

Other Democrats have gained ground in their Dutchess counts as well, according to the unofficial totals. The following numbers only include ballots cast in Dutchess County and many of these districts extend outside the county:

President-elect Joseph R. Biden (D) now has a 5,870 vote lead on President Donald J. Trump (R) in Dutchess County after trailing by 1,941 after in-person voting.

Congressman Antonio Delgado (D) has extended his lead over challenger Kyle Van De Water (R) to 4,951 votes after initially trailing by 144 in the county.

Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (D) has extended his Dutchess lead over challenger Chele Farley (R) from 5,146 to 7,598 votes.

Karen Smythe (D) has gained 3,427 votes on State Senator Susan Serino (R) who remains well ahead and out of reach with a 12,409 vote lead.

State Senator Peter Harckham (D) gained 618 votes on Rob Astorino (R) who leads in Dutchess by 2,739 votes.

Assembly Member Kevin Cahill (D) added 853 votes to his commanding lead over Rex Bridges (R) in the 103rd District.

Assembly Member Kieran Lalor (R) remains ahead of Laurette Giardino (D), who has gained 2,337 votes but remains 11,458 votes behind.

Assembly Member Didi Barrett (D) has added 3,038 votes to her lead over Councilman Dean Michael (R) and is now ahead by 3,857 votes in Dutchess.

Counting will resume on Monday.

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