Republican Assemblyman Greg Ball (District 99) beat a primary opponent by nearly a 3-1 margin Tuesday, but both are expected to face off again in November.

Ball, the incumbent, netted 73 percent of the vote, defeating challenger John Degnan, the former mayor of Brewster following a long campaign that was often fraught with controversy and mudslinging.

"Two years ago, I promised to stand up to some very powerful people, and we have stood up to some very powerful people, and now I have on my back, a target the size of Texas,? Ball says.

While Ball's primary night party in Yorktown was high-spirited, the gathering for Degnan, in Brewster was far more solemn.

This is not the end of the road for Degnan. He also has the Democratic and Working Families nominations, and he told his supporters that the GOP primary was only the prelude to the November election.

"We're going to see Conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, unaffiliated voters, Independence voters step up and say, 'We have pride in our community,'" Degnan says.

Ball has accused his fellow Republican, state Sen. Vincent Leibell, of fueling the smear campaign against him. But following his victory in the primary, Ball has offered an olive branch to Leibell for the good of the party.

"We have different styles, different issues, but that doesn't mean either one of us are bad Republicans,? Ball says. ?We just have different ways, and now we have to come together and get over these petty differences."

Leibell, however, publicly announced Tuesday that he does not like Ball.

"Greg Ball is a very odd person,? he says. ?Obviously, I dislike the way he's handled himself. I certainly dislike the way he's trashed the communities both he and I represent, which is the reason why I've taken the position I've taken."

Degnan is still running on the Democratic ticket, and Leibell declined to say whether he will reach out across the aisle and support him against Ball.