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READ: President's Statement on the Election of Hochul to Congress

President Obama reacts to the election of Kathy Hochul:

I want to extend my congratulations to Kathy Hochul for her victory in New York's 26th Congressional District. Kathy and I both believe that we need to create jobs, grow our economy, and reduce the deficit in order to outcompete other nations and win the future. Kathy has shown, through her victory and throughout her career, that she will fight for the families and businesses in western New York, and I look forward to working with her when she gets to Washington.

The White House was obviously quite pleased with the NY-26 special election. The statement was emailed to reporters and posted at WhiteHouse.gov before Hochul even gave her victory speech.

Pro-Equality Democrat Kathy Hochul Wins Special Election in Upstate NY

In what has been described as a "stunning defeat" for the Republican Party, Democrat Kathy Hochul captured a congressional seat held for four decades by Republicans. The special election in upstate New York was widely seen as a referendum on the Republican budget plan to privatize Medicare.

The Buffalo News:

Hochul defeated Republican Jane L. Corwin, a Clarence assemblywoman, 47 percent to 43 percent, with 97 percent of election districts reporting, while the Tea Party's Jack Davis mustered only 9 percent in his fourth try for the seat. Ian L. Murphy of the Green Party recorded 1 percent, while overall turnout was about 25 percent.

The results marked a stunning defeat for the GOP in a contest that garnered intense national attention as the first competitive race following the Republican takeover of the House in last November's elections. And as a jubilant Hochul took the stage at her headquarters at the UAW Hall in Amherst at about 10:30 p.m., she reminded supporters about the core of her campaign — controversial proposals by the GOP to revamp Medicare. "We had the issues on our side," Hochul said. "We can balance the budget the right way and not on the backs of our seniors.

Hochul ran on a marriage equality platform in a conservative, McCain-voting district represented by Republicans for decades.

The NY-26 special election was to replace disgraced Republican Rep. Chris Lee, the anti-gay conservative New York congressman who abruptly resigned after being exposed for trolling Craigslist with shirtless pics.

Here's to Democrats flipping more districts in November. Watch Hochul's victory speech AFTER THE JUMP ...

Buffalo Bills' CJ Spiller Apologizes for Calling Eagles Player "Fag"

Buffalo Bills running back CJ Spiller has apologized for tweeting "Keep my name out ur mouth fag" at former Clemson teammate and Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Ricky Sapp. The original tweet was deleted shortly after it was posted on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Spiller tweeted this apology: "I wanna apologize for using dat derogatory term to any1 that I may have offended I am truly sorry that was out of my character...God bless."

Also on Thursday, the rookie first round draft pick apologized before practice. "Me and Ricky are best friends and we always joke around on [Twitter], but I shouldn't have said what I said," Spiller said in the locker room. "If anybody knew how me and Ricky play around on Twitter, pretty much knows that we were just joking and didn't mean any harm. I apologize for the situation and just want to move forward."

Spiller said he personally apologized to head coach Chan Gailey and general manager Buddy Nix. The rookie added that he hasn't heard from the NFL. The incident cappped a disappointing week for the rookie running back, who has been sidelined "indefinitely" after injuring his hamstring in Sunday's win over the Lions.

Terrell Owens Channels Tina Turner for New York Fashion Week

Buffalo Bills wide receiver, gridiron diva and reality sporno star Terrell Owens added a new hyphen to his skill set: Runway model. Owens walked during New York Fashion Week for A*Muse, designer and club kid Richie Rich's collection. T.O. flaunted his killer chest and abs ... with a freshly-teased Tina Turner meets Sally Hershberger wig.

Work it, hon. A few more looks plus the twist AFTER THE JUMP...

WATCH: Victim of Anti-Gay Buffalo Hate Crime Threatened in Court

There is a very disturbing update to Saturday's story of a young man in suburban Buffalo who was pepper-sprayed, kicked, punched and robbed by two young women. The young man was attacked because he is perceived to be gay, although he says he is straight. The latest: The victim of the alleged hate crime was threatened while in court.

The Buffalo News:

Joy Darden, 18, and Deonna Burnett, 19 [were] in Cheektowaga Town Court Thursday for a preliminary hearing on charges of robbery, grand larceny, aggravated harassment and criminal mischief. Police said in the days leading up to the court appearance, a friend of the victim had received text messages stating the victim should not show up for court. The victim was threatened Thursday during [the] court appearance for the suspects, Cheektowaga Police said. Shariff Jackson, 18, was charged with tampering with a witness after police said he approached the victim in the hallway of the Cheektowaga Town Court building. Jackson told the victim that he was going to "whoop him," Capt. James Speyer said.

Jackson is believed to be the boyfriend of one of the suspects, reports WKBW. He was immediately arrested and charged with tampering with a witness.

Darden and Burnett's case was sent to a grand jury for the enhanced hate crime penalties. The charges will undoubtedly become more severe with these new allegations of witness tampering. Watch WIVB's report AFTER THE JUMP ...

WATCH: Buffalo Teens Charged w/ Assault, Victim Perceived to Be Gay

A 20-year-old man was brutally attacked at suburban Buffalo, New York mall on New Year's Day by two young women. Witnesses says he was attacked because he was perceived to be gay, although he is straight, and authorities will charge the assailants with a hate crime.

Eighteen-year-old Joy Darden and 19-year-old Deonna Burnett are charged with beating and attacking the man with pepper spray in the mall parking lot. The fathers of both suspects claim the young women and the victim "have known each other for years" and the incident was "not" a hate crime.

The victim's family says otherwise: "They were yelling gay slurs", the victim's mother, Michelle Hamilton, tells WKBW. The Cheektowaga Police Department adds that it has recovered evidence to support a hate crime took place, including a note on the victim's vandalized car "containing anti-gay slurs." The case was sent to a grand jury for review for the enhanced hate crime penalties.

This was the second anti-gay attack in Buffalo within 48 hours. In another grusome attack, a young woman was stabbed in her eye by a woman yelling gay slurs as she left a lesbian bar. Watch WKBW's report WHEN YOU JUMP.