Joe Lhota addressing the club.

Last night in the Dyker Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, Republican officials, operatives and activists gathered to toast influential Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long, including multiple mayoral candidates and--jokingly--at least one Gracie Mansion contender whose campaign has yet to be mentioned.

"I'm happy to be here," Mr. Long, the honoree of the evening, declared as he name-checked various officials in the room. "Joe Lhota, they're saying that there's an interest he may be running for mayor. ... Adolfo Carrión, I hear the same rumor about you, that you may be thinking about running for mayor. There's a lot of people in the room running for mayor and I haven't even made my announcement yet!"

A third Republican mayoral candidate, George McDonald, would later arrive and, like Mr. Carrión, address the crowd. But the prime speaking slot to give his complete pitch went to Mr. Lhota--whom Mr. Long has praised in the past. And, somewhat amusingly, Mr. Lhota quoted perennial candidate Jimmy McMillan, the radical "The Rent Is Too Damn High!" activist, in making his case.

"We need to reform our government. We need to streamline our government. We need to make it more transparent. We need to make it less intrusive. We need to make it more efficient," Mr. Lhota said. "Remember in the last governor's race, there was a guy who was running, Jimmy McMillan was his name? And he kept saying, 'The rent is too damn high!' I'm a mayoral candidate this year, we'll be saying over and over again, 'Our government is too damn expensive!"

The newly-minted Brooklyn South Conservative Club's crowd was a friendly audience for the declaration--official swag at every table included a 17-ounce cup dedicated to "Nanny Bloomberg," for example--and cheered at the line.

Of course, the Conservative Party is not where they'd like to be in New York State right now. The Conservative-backed candidate for U.S. Senate last year, Wendy Long, got destroyed in the ballot booth by incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand while Republicans in the State Senate were forced to form a bipartisan coalition to remain in power--enabling Governor Andrew Cuomo to pass new gun control legislation over Mr. Long's strong objections. For his part, Mr. Long addressed his party's condition to conclude his speech.

"A word about mountains," Mr. Long said. "One would say that to the question, 'Maybe the Conservative movement is in a funk. Maybe we took a little setback. Maybe we're not doing as well as we'd like to do.' Let me tell you this here. Politics is mountains and valleys. Right now, we hit the valley. ... Folks, if you think we're in trouble. We are. If you think of despair, don't. Do not despair, don't lose heart. The phoenix will rise again."

Eric Ulrich (Photo: Facebook)

While the Queens Republican Party can't quite seem to get its act together and unify behind Councilman Eric Ulrich, the leading GOP candidate against Democratic Senator Joe Addabbo, the county's Conservative Party gave Mr. Ulrich a fist bump with an official endorsement today.

"Eric understands that job creation is the key to strengthening our communities and putting New York back on the right path," Queens Conservative Chairman Tom Long said in a statement. "He will fight for lower taxes on small businesses and provide incentives for businesses to hire and grow. We need new leaders in Albany, like Councilman Ulrich, who will focus on fixing the economy and making our neighborhoods safe."

Left unmentioned in the announcement, of course, is Mr. Ulrich's new primary opponent, Juan Reyes, who has the formal backing of the infamously fractious Queens Republican Party.

Today's announcement is somewhat similar to the dynamic that played out when Rep. Anthony Weiner resigned last year. The Queens Republican Party pushed for Mr. Reyes to get the nomination, only to receive a push from forces like the Conservative Party for now-Congressman Bob Turner.

Unlike in 2011, however, there will be a Republican primary to settle the dispute this time.

Congressman Grimm (Photo: Facebook)

The Staten Island Conservative Party's executive committee endorsed Democratic incumbent Rep. Michael McMahon in 2010, but with a new chairman and a new Republican incumbent, that's not happening this time around.

Later this morning, Mr. Grimm will receive the endorsement of both the Brooklyn and Staten Island Conservative Parties, ensuring him a third ballot line along with the Independence Party. In 2010, the Brooklyn Conservatives were able to overrule their Staten Island counterparts' attempt -- spearheaded by Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro -- to give their ballot line to the Democrat.

“I was thrilled to have the support of the NYS Conservative Party in 2010, and I’m thrilled to have it again," Mr. Grimm said in a statement. "Throughout my first term in Congress, I have been working hard to do what’s best for the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn, without abandoning the core conservative values I hold dear."

"I am pleased to once again endorse his election to the U.S. House of Representatives," the State Conservative Party Chairman, Mike Long, added.

Mr. Grimm's Democratic opponent is Mark Murphy, the son of former Rep. John Murphy and a former aide to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

David Storobin making his way to the stage to give his election night speech. (Photo: Hunter Walker)

The race between veteran Councilman Lew Fidler and Republican upstart David Storobin was a vicious campaign that included charges of pedophilia, Nazism and election day allegations "a Storobin thug" ran over a Fidler volunteer with a van. A police spokesperson subsequently told The New York Times the claim about the van proved to be untrue. In the end, Mr. Storobin was up by 120 votes in the final pre-paper ballot tally, but both candidates declared victory and the campaign is headed to a close count and court fight. However, as Mr. Storobin pointed out in a speech at his election night party, no one expected him to come close.

"We counted 100 percent of the votes but there are still some votes, some paper votes that are left, but based on all the info that we have, I'm proud to say that we, all of us, won this race. There may be recounts and we may have to wait for official results for a few days, or maybe even a couple of weeks, but like I said, the good won, we won," Mr. Storobin said. "Tonight, we'll go to bed as winners when nobody outside believed that we had a shot to even compete, when every story about this campaign began with Lew Fidler, the heavy favorite."

According to Craig Eaton, chairman of the Brooklyn GOP, Mr. Storobin's campaign began almost exactly a year ago. Mr. Eaton said Mr. Storobin, who emigrated from the Soviet Union as a child and eventually opened his own law practice, came to him and expressed interest in running for office four years ago. Last year, Mr. Eaton said they decided it was time for Mr. Storobin to challenge Democrat Carl Kruger, who had represented the 27th District in South Brooklyn since 1994.

"We did the dynamics of it and said a Russian lawyer in this district could work," Mr. Eaton said at the party last night.

On March 8th, 2011, Mr. Eaton brought Mr. Storobin up to Albany to introduce him to the Republican Senate Conference and the State GOP leadership. That night, they went to dinner at Angelo's 677 Prime, a steakhouse near the State Capitol, with New York Republican State Committee Chairman Ed Cox and several GOP county chairs. During the meal, the television sets lining the walls of the restaurant came alive with the news Mr. Kruger was going to be indicted on federal corruption charges that would eventually send him to prison last December.

"The news broke that night. Now, if that isn't fortuitous, that I'm up there bringing David to meet and talk about running against Carl Kruger and, at that minute, Carl Kruger gets eliminated from the race," Mr. Eaton said. "From that day, we started campaigning and David just kept going forward."

Mr. Storobin's campaign was seen as a longshot, but he had heavy support from the local and state Republican Party, which was betting a campaign focused on Mr. Fidler's liberal positions on social issues, specifically gay marriage, could be a success among the large numbers of Russians and Orthodox Jews in the district. About half and hour after the polls closed last night, the early returns looked promising for the Storobin supporters and several attendees at Mr. Storobin's party were ready to claim victory and take credit for helping their man win. One of those people was Rabbi Isaac Levi, Chairman of the Board of a group called "Jews For Morality."

Mr. Levi a slight, elderly man with a long gray beard and black fedora identifying him as an Orthodox Jews, was handing out a Xeroxed press release that said, "Orthodox Jews play a major role in Storobin's success. ... Othodox Jews, a major voting bloc in the 27th Senate District, in a special election, elected Republican/Conservative David Storobin." Mr. Levi explained to The Politicker how Mr. Fidler's support for gay rights turned off many members of the Orthodox community.

"Fidler's voting for a proposal to teach same gender marriage in our schools to six-year-old children and his support for other anti-family bills played a major role in his defeat," Mr. Levi said. "He overstepped the bounds. Mr. Fidler overstepped the bounds of what we consider almost normal living, normal family life."

Mr. Levi was accompanied by a man with a short beard and a yarmulke named Bernard Fishman. Mr. Fishman initially said he couldn't comment because it might get him into hot water at his job, but he chimed in as Mr. Levi spoke.

"The main problem is that they are looking to interject themselves into our lives. There was a time when they said, 'Keep government out of the bedroom,' well, I supported that. Now, the question is, now that they have the tools of government, they can now force themselves into our areas," Mr. Fishman said. "I mean, they now, the state can now insist that every child learn about gay marriage. Why should that be? That's the danger. Two men can walk into a synagogue or a church and say, 'We want full membership, we're homosexuals.' Now who can stop that? Now that's where the danger is."

Same-sex marriage was legalized in Albany last June, but Mr. Levi said the Orthodox community still hopes to fight the issue by voting out politicians who support gay marriage and forcing a referendum.

"The truth is, the representatives in Albany let us down, they let us down. They were bought off on this issue by a very strong lobby," Mr. Levi said. "We're going to take corrective action, we're going to go out against all these State Assemblymen in our area of Brooklyn that voted for gay marriage. They're going to face primaries or elections and they're going to rue the day that they ever voted for gay marriage."

Mr. Storobin's party took place at an "Asian bistro" in Sheepshead Bay called O.P.M., short for "opium." Guests mingled under neon pink lights and ornate chandeliers while sampling from a buffet of Chinese food. Joseph Hayon, a former Assembly candidate and strong supporter of Mr. Storobin complimented the cuisine.

"This is 100 percent kosher food," Mr. Hayon said. "Tell me the last time a non-religious candidate had 100 percent Kosher food at a victory rally."

Both Mr. Fidler and Mr. Storobin are Jewish, though not Orthodox. Their religion came up at several points during the campaign. In January, Mr. Fidler accused Mr. Storobin of having "ties to skinheads, and neo-Nazi groups and white supremacist groups" because the Republican wrote a blog that was linked to by extremist groups. Last week, an ad ran in two local Jewish publications questioning Mr. Fidler's religious convictions because of a 2008 interview he gave to this publication in which he described himself as a "bacon and eggs kind of Jew." A special advertising supplement in the most recent issue of the Flatbush Jewish Journal noted Mr. Fidler's support for teaching children about gay marriage and described voting for him as a violation of religious law.

At Mr. Storobin's party, the crowd was still sparse about an hour after polls closed. We spotted several members of the Kings County G.O.P. and Brooklyn Young Republicans, a pair of staffers from the office of Republican Congressman and Senate candidate Bob Turner and Republican Councilman Dan Halloran.

"Lew Fidler, I love him to death, we have a great time in Council together, working together, but I think we need to start sending messages," Mr. Halloran said.

According to Mr. Halloran the key message that needs to be sent is that government should not get involved with religion with legislation like the same-sex marriage law, President Obama's contraception coverage rule and New York City's ban on churches using public school space.

"Respect for God is part of the American tradition, however you choose to see God," Mr. Halloran said. "I think a lot of pople feel that we've moved so far towards a secular state that we've forgotten that this is one nation founded under God."

With about 85 percent of the vote counted, Mr. Storobin had a slight lead. Jacob Kornbluh, a self-described "political junkie" and writer for Jewish Voice NY, said he didn't think Mr. Fidler would concede unless he was winning by more than 300 votes. Regardless of the outcome, Mr. Kornbluh said the night was a success for Mr. Storobin and the Kings County GOP.

"I'm happy because it shows that the Brooklyn Republicans are alive and kicking," Mr. Kornbluh said. "This shouldn't have even been close."

Mr. Kornbluh was right about Mr. Fidler being unwilling to concede. In fact, a little before 11:20 p.m., Mr. Fidler gave a victory speech at his election night party.

"Even if it doesn't always happen that way, this time, today, tonight, the good guys win," Mr. Fidler said.

When word of Mr. Fidler's speech reached the crowd at the Storobin party, Gene Berardelli, vice chairman of the Kings County Republicans' Law Committee turned to Russ Gallo, president of the Brooklyn Young Republicans and laughed.

"I guess the Brooklyn GOP are the good guys now," Mr. Berardelli said.

State Senator Marty Golden warming up the crowd for David Storobin. (Photo: Getty)

The final count coming in from the Board of Elections showed Mr. Storobin was up by 120 with 100 percent of the vote reported. It would be coming down to about 800 absentee and affidavit ballots, which are scheduled to start being counted March 27. That technicality didn't stop Mr. Storobin from stepping onto the raised dancefloor and giving a victory speech of his own shortly after Mr. Fidler. Mr. Storobin was introduced by State Senator Marty Golden, who listed gains Republicans have made in New York City in recent years.

"Remember? There was Senator Marty Golden, then we had Nicole Malliotakis, our Assemblywoman, and then we had a guy named Congressman Bob Turner. Right? Right? Right? And we have another guy, what's that guy? Congressman Michael Grimm," Mr. Golden said. "They said it couldn't happen right? And now, we've got New York State Senator David Storobin, yes, yes."

As crowds chanted his name, Mr. Storobin, who noted "it's been 18 hours since I woke up" touted his underdog status.

"It's been a long night and an even longer campaign, we started this campaign with nobody giving us a chance," Mr. Storobin said.

Mr. Storobin also referenced the attacks and allegations that flew back and forth during the race.

"Early in the race, my opponent ... called me a Jewish Nazi," Mr. Storobin said. "They called me a lot of names. Today, they claimed that we were running over their volunteers with our cars. No joke, multiple volunters. Now, nobody knows their names, where it happened, multiple of their volunteers apparently were run over by our cars. I mean maybe that's why they're going to claim that they lost, because their volunteers, their voters got run over by cars."

"I got two of them," Mr. Gallo shouted from the crowd.

"I knew it was Russell, I knew it," Mr. Storobin laughed.

Mr. Storobin said, unlike his opponent, he ran a "good campaign."

"We discussed real issues and our opponents decided to engage in character assasiation. And guess what? The good side won," Mr. Storobin said. "I will be going to Albany, and I will represent all of you and I will fight for you."

A heavyset Russian man shouted at Mr. Storobin from the audience.

"David, think about your mother," he said. "Tomorrow, she will wake up as a mother of United States Senator!"

Mr. Storobin corrected him.

"State senator, New York State Senator."

"Give it some time!" another audience member shouted.

Mr. Storobin's mother, Anna Storobin, was by his side on stage. Ms. Storobin made the maximum donation of $10,000 to her son's campaign, a fact which was derisively noted by the Fidler campaign during the race. At his party, Mr. Storobin thanked his mother for her support.

"I was interviewed by someone ... they were asking me about my campaign and how it's going, and then they said, 'Don't you feel that you will owe to your biggest fundraiser?'" Mr. Storobin said. "Let me point out, my biggest fundraiser and my biggest volunteer was my mom. So, yes, I will owe to my biggest fundraiser and my biggest volunteer. ... Our opponents really have no shame, they've attacked my mom repeatedly and that's one thing I've really taken offense to."

David Storobin celebrates with his supporters. (Photo: Hunter Walker)

After taking a congratulatory phone call from Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos on stage, Mr. Storobin descended into the crowd where he made a beeline for Brooklyn Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar, who worked on his campaign. Mr. Storobin asked Mr. Kassar how the situation with the paper ballots was shaping up. Mr. Kassar was optimistic.

"We worked them. Remember in the beginning when I was screaming and yelling about sending that stuff out? I was always thinking you'd be close, we were always on it," Mr. Kassar said.

Mr. Storobin's campaign is taking the ballot count to court. This morning, his lawyers filed a motion to have any questions about recanvassing decided before a judge rather than allowing the Board of Elections to make a final determination that cannot be appealed. We asked Mr. Storobin what he expected to happen on the morning after his party.

"It's going to be fun, you know, we're going to finally make it official, hopefully in the next couple of days," Mr. Storobin said. "We are very confident that we are going to win."

Mr. Storobin was among the last people to leave his party. As mist rolled in off the bay, he stood outside the restaurant with a small group of supporters. Mr. Storobin reacted with disbelief when one of his backers informed him Mr. Fidler had also made a victory speech.

"He announced he won?" Mr. Storobin asked incredulously.

"He announced he won because, he said he has five-to-one handwritten ballots on us," the man said.

"That crackhead," another Storobin supporter said.

"I think he is on crack," Mr. Storobin laughed.

Bob Turner at his press conference outside the New York Conservative Party convention. (Photo: Hunter Walker)

Congressman Bob Turner's surprise Senate campaign started too late for him to earn a spot on the Conservative Party ticket, but he still stopped by the convention where Wendy Long received the nomination today.

"I'm here today to pay my respects to the Conservative Party," Mr. Turner said in a press conference held after his visit at the convention. "I would like very much to be on their nominating ballot, there's a process in place and certain rules and my late entry in that has made this extraordinarily problematic."

Mr. Turner jumped into the Senate race last Tuesday after the redistricting maps released by the court effectively elminated his seat in the 9th district. At his press conference, The Politicker asked Mr. Turner his reaction to his raw redistricting deal.

"We were surprised. We had every indication that there would be a district representing the unique character of the 9th," Mr. Turner said. "It was carved up in such a way that made any effective run electorally impossible, so I was very disappointed and disappointed at the timing. ... Had we known this six weeks ago, perhaps a lot of this angst we're going through now just would never have happened."

Though, traditionally, it is hard to win on a Republican ticket without also being on the Conservative ballot, Mr. Turner said he's not worried about missing out on the Conservative nomination.

"That may be past popular wisdom, I don't know. I know what I have to do and I take it a step at a time," Mr. Turner said. "The next step is to win the primary on the Republican ticket, what happens after that, we'll see. But our real target here is the Democratic-controlled Senate, particularly Senator Gillibrand, so that's what this campaign will be about and who is the best candidate to defeat her in November."

Mr. Turner also didn't enter the race fast enough to get a solo spot on the GOP ticket. At the State Republican Party Convention in Rochester last week, the party chose to allow Mr. Turner, Ms. Long and George Maragos to run for the nomination. We asked Mr. Turner what he believes he brings to the table that his opponents do not.

"I think we have name recognition and a proven record to get crossover voters, New York we have a three to one registration disadvantage. I've been able to overcome that, and I intend to do it again and I think that's the biggest thing," Mr. Turner said. "We've made outreach to a number of groups in the community that I think will be very important as we move forward. A lot of groundwork has been laid, we have a great campaign team, all that will be brought to bear and I believe we will prevail at the end of the day."

With Ms. Long having earned the Conservative nomination, Mr. Turner could find himself in a three-way race against Ms. Long and Ms. Gillibrand if he wins the Republican nomination and Ms. Long were to pursue an uphill campaign without the Republican ballot line. Mr. Turner said he'd "certainly" be willing to fight a two front war if that scenario ends up happening, but he wasn't willing to speculate about whether the Conservatives might back him if he secures the far more significant Republican nomination.

"Well let's get through one thing at a time and we'll see how it plays out," Mr. Turner said.

In 2010, Rick Lazio got the Conservative nomination for governor, but ended up dropping out after the Republicans backed Carl Paladino.

Mr. Turner is a longtime friend of Conservative Party chairman Mike Long. He actually credits Mr. Long with convincing to enter politics and run in the special election to replace Congressman Anthony Weiner last year. Mr. Turner said Mr. Long promised the Party's support to Ms. Long and he understood why Mr. Long wasn't willing to go back on his word.

"Mike and I have been friends for a very long time. I've only been in politics two years, our friendship goes back way longer than that. Mike is a man of his word and given his word before I got into this," Mr. Turner said. "I wouldn't be into this you know had it not been for the redistricting problem and this is the only outlet for our talent and energy."

Ms. Long created some buzz when she spoke at a Conservative Party event a month ago, as she was not previously known to be considering a run. Although she has been fairly quiet since, the Kings County Conservative Party just announced he's scheduled to speak at their annual brunch in March.

Ironically considering the Conservative Party venues, the one other candidate actively seeking the Republican nomination to run against Ms. Gillibrand, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, recently found himself apologizing to the head of New York's Conservative Party for a poorly timed announcement of a different Conservative Party's endorsement.

Ms. Gillibrand, who has over $8 million in her campaign war chest, will be a formidable foe for either Republican.

George Maragos (Photo: Facebook)

U.S. Senate candidate George Maragos raised some eyebrows the other day when he announced the endorsement of the "Conservative Party USA (NY)" on the same day that he, and other potential candidates, met with the far more influential New York State Conservative Party.

Asked about this last night on Inside City Hall, Mr. Maragos offered a round of apologies for the confusion.

"The Conservative Party USA endorsed me, it's a small party. I apologize for the confusion that  may have caused, because that's a different party [from] the New York party headed by Mike Long," he said. "I called Mike Long personally to apologize in that regard."

"The timing was not good, but there was nothing misleading in the press release at all."

Mr. Maragos is currently the only announced candidate seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Attorney Wendy Long is also considering the race, and although she's unrelated to the Conservative Party Chairman, Mr. Long did offer her some direct praise after she and Mr. Maragos met with his party.

Mr. Coburn was speaking generally of the country’s malaise, not about the state of the state Conservative Party, which seems to have regained some mojo in recent months.

The dinner—proudly titled “Recovering Row C”--celebrated the party’s move back to the third ballot line, and came as its chairman, Mike Long, has inserted the party into the debate over same-sex marriage, by pledging to deny an endorsement to any legislator who supports the measure.

But there was no mention of the divisive social issue among last night’s speakers.

Sounding like Andy Rooney on an off-night, Senator Coburn spoke about a range of problems that show government’s overbearing influence on everyday people - from energy efficient light bulbs that burn out too fast to less toxic laundry detergent that means that you have to wash your shirt twice as often.

“It’s all about fiscal freedom,” said one attendee during the pre-dinner cocktail hour. “Marriage and abortion are smaller issues that liberals bring up.”

Sitting legislators--both state and national--were mostly absent, due to ongoing sessions in Washington and Albany. “It’s hard having an event on a Wednesday night, but I am sure they did it for a reason,” said an intern for Republican (and Conservative!) Congressman Michael Grimm.

Former congressman Joe DioGuardi recommended the new book of his daughter, Kara, who was a judge on American Idol, and said he didn’t need the Senate seat he lost to Kirsten Gillibrand last year, to have a positive effect on politics.

“I don’t need a title to do something good for America,” DioGuardi said.

Charlie Duffy, the supervisor of Lewisboro, a town in upper Westchester, gave out packets of seeds with his campaign slogan on one side and an American flag on the other, before organizers herded the guests past life sized portraits of Bill, Hillary and Chelsea touting the Clinton Global Initiative, and into the banquet room.

Jim Lisante--a Catholic priest who frequently cheerleads Republican and Conservative causes and has prayerfully attacked both President Obama and former Governor Spitzer--led an invocation, followed by an endorsement of Coburn--but said the two should not be confused.

“Nobody is more of a soul mate of the conservatives than Senator Coburn,” he said.

Lisante also made a joke about people accusing him of being in bed with Fox. “I’d be happy to go to bed with anyone,” he joked.

Chairman Long spoke about the party and, on the occasion of their 49^th annual dinner, expressed his certainty that the 50^th dinner would coincide with a conservative presidential candidate.

Senator Coburn accepted his award and spoke at length about broad topics such as fiscal responsibility and freedom. He got the most applause was when he mentioned that he had delivered 912 babies in four years.

Midway through the Senator’ speech, a woman who looked as though she had enjoyed the cocktail hour tottered back into the banquet room. “He’s still talking,” she mouthed.