Former Rep. Joseph DioGuardi defied the odds to become the Republican candidate running against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for the unexpired term in the U.S. Senate.

DioGuardi, who served in Congress in the 1980s, was shut out at the Republican convention earlier this year and through a petition drive and grassroots support defeated David Malpass by five percent of the vote.

While support for DioGuardi is strong and he says a political revolution is afoot, Democrats enjoy a roughly 2-1 margin in voter registration in the state.

The unexpired term is the remaining two years of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton?s term when she was in the Senate.

Sen. Gillibrand wins primary challengeDioGuardi wins GOP primary, will face Sen. GillibrandNews 12 HV - Primary Vote 2010 ResultsNews 12 Hudson Valley: Primary Vote 2010