2008Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
2008 election for New York's 13th District
U.S. House · New York
Michael McMahon (D) won with 60.9% of the vote, defeating Robert A. Straniere (R) by 27.6 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
Michael McMahonDemocrat · winner
60.9%114,219
Robert A. StraniereRepublican
33.3%62,441
Timothy J. CochraneConservative
3.1%5,799
Carmine A. MoranoIndependent
2.6%4,947
187,406 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2008
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Michael McMahonRobert A. Straniere
$1.5M
Raised by the campaign
$166.2K
$1.3M
Spent by the campaign
$162.5K
$208.7K
Cash on hand
$3.7K
Other candidates' campaigns: Carmine A. Morano $51.1K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 2008.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 2008
The candidates
Michael McMahon (D)Robert A. Straniere (R)
Also on the ballot: Timothy J. Cochrane (Conservative), 3.1%; Carmine A. Morano (Independent), 2.6%