In the city’s only seriously contested congressional race, Rep. Vito Fossella, a Republican, held off a challenge by Democrat Stephen Harrison to retain his seat representing Staten Island and southern Brooklyn.

A Republican representing Long Island, Rep. Peter King, also appeared to beat back an aggressive Democratic bid, but he was on the verge of losing his chairmanship of the powerful Homeland Security Committee amid a projected Democratic takeover of the House.

In Albany, the balance of power in the Legislature was expected to hold, as Republicans appeared to triumph in key races to retain the state Senate. The Democrats have a large majority in the Assembly that was not threatened yesterday.

With all the precincts reporting in the 13th congressional district, Mr. Fossella won with 57% of the vote, to 43% for Mr. Harrison.

In a speech to hundreds of supporters at Staaten restaurant in Staten Island, Mr. Harrison last night blamed Democrats in Washington for his loss. “If we had gotten the support from the national committee, I would be Congressman Steve Harrison,” he said.

He would not disclose whether he would challenge Mr. Fossella again in 2008, saying he would “cross that bridge when I come to it.”

Mr. Harrison waged his campaign largely on his own until the final days, as Democratic leaders focused elsewhere and never considered the seat key to their national hopes for retaking Congress. Without major party support, he struggled to raise even a tenth of the more than $1.1 million that Mr. Fossella spent in the race.

Despite an enormous fund-raising advantage, Mr. Fossella, 41, faced his toughest race since he was first elected to Congress, in 1997. He is the lone Republican in the city’s congressional delegation. Mr. Harrison, 57, a lawyer and longtime community activist in Bay Ridge, portrayed Mr. Fossella as a foot soldier for the Bush administration, criticizing his support for the Iraq war and his high rating with the national gun lobby.

Campaigning as an “independent fighter,” Mr. Fossella berated Mr. Harrison for his opposition to the administration’s wiretapping program targeting terrorists. The Democrat also had to overcome the disadvantage of not living in Staten Island, which accounts for two-thirds of the district. Mr. Fossella defeated Democrat Frank Barbaro by a margin of 59% to 41% in 2004.

In New York’s 3rd district on Long Island, Rep. Peter King faced a Nassau County legislator, David Mejias, who also sought to tie the incumbent to President Bush’s policy in Iraq. Mr. Mejias raised more than $900,000 for the race, and Mr. King said he planned to spend his entire campaign war chest of nearly $1.6 million to retain the seat he has held since 1993.

With 77% of the precincts reporting last night, Mr. King had 57% of the vote in an election that was expected to be closer. Mr. Mejias had help in his race from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which late last month added his race to its “red-toblue” program of possible Democratic takeovers.

With incumbents in the state Legislature enjoying a large advantage, few races in the five boroughs were close.

In Yonkers, state Senator Nick Spano, a Republican, was in jeopardy of losing to Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who came within 18 votes of ousting him in 2004. With 75% of the precincts reporting, Ms. Stewart-Cousins was winning, 51% to 49%. She was ahead by 816 votes.

By far the tightest area race for the Assembly was in a district that covers parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn, where Democrat Janele Hyer-Spencer led Republican Anthony Xanthakis, 51% to 49%, with 94% of the precincts counted last night. Ms. Hyer-Spencer was up by 562 votes. They were battling to replace Assemblyman Matthew Mirones, a Republican who is retiring. Mr. Xanthakis served as counsel to Mr. Mirones, while Ms. Hyer-Spencer, a lawyer, ran unsuccessfully against the incumbent in 2004, gaining 40% of the vote.

Yesterday’s election also served as Promotion Day for several current or former members of the City Council. Council Member Yvette Clarke, a Democrat, cruised into Congress with 89% of the vote in Brooklyn’s 11th district. She defeated Council Member David Yassky and two other candidates in a hard-fought primary in September. Council Member Andrew Lanza, a Republican, was elected to the state Senate in the 24th district in Staten Island. A former city lawmaker, Bill Perkins, was elected to replace state Senator David Paterson, who is running for lieutenant governor, in the 30th district in Harlem.