is projecting that Rep. Elliot Engel (D - N.Y.) will retain his congressional seat in New York's 17th District, and that Nita Lowey (D - N.Y.) will do the same in the 18th District.

Engel defeated Republican candidate Anthony Mele and Conservative Party candidate York Kleinhandler.

The race for the 17th District seat was not without controversy, with Engel receiving some local criticism after showing up late to a Rockland County debate and Mele was accused of tampering with votes.

Lowey's race against the GOP's initial pick, Jim Russell, was also marked by controversy. Westchester Republicans dropped their support for Russell after writings he penned back in 2001 surfaced that some considered racist and anti-Semitic. Russell still ran against Lowey while a write-in candidate, former Bronxville Village Trustee Cortes DeRussy, was designated as the Westchester Republican Party's unofficial new pick.

The 17th Congressional District covers parts of Rockland, Westchester and the Bronx.

Hudson Valley Vote 2010 Election Day

News 12 HV Vote 2010: Complete Coverage

Rep. Engel arrives late, misses questions at HV debate

Anthony Mele declared winner in GOP congressional primary