Rep. Bob Turner’s days in Washington are officially numbered.
The congressman lost the Republican Senate primary on Tuesday, meaning the fledgling pol who watched his Southern Brooklyn district evaporate in front of him nine months after taking office will be ushered off Capitol Hill in December.
But Turner (R–Sheepshead Bay) was gracious in defeat as he congratulated Long — who received 51 percent of the vote — on her win.
“I pledge to work with Ms. Long to unite all Republicans and Conservatives in the effort to defeat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in November,” he told supporters at his concession speech.
Turner received 36 percent of the vote after paying three times what Long did, according to Federal Election Commission records. The congressman raised more than $696,000 and spent just over $795,000. Long raised more than $245,000 and spent $262,727.
Albany map makers dissolved Turner’s district earlier this year, splitting the property between Rep. Michael Grimm (R–Bay Ridge) and Rep. Ed Towns (D–Canarsie).
Turner earned a surprise victory over Queens Assemblyman David Weprin last year after sexting-scarred Rep. Anthony Weiner resigned in disgrace.
Long will now have to contend with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand — a popular Democrat with an $8-million war chest who easily won her 2010 re-election by garnering 63 percent of the vote. Gillibrand was appointed to the Senate in 2009 by then-Gov. David Paterson.
Reach reporter Colin MIxson at cmixson@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-4514.
