ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Andrew Cuomo overwhelmingly won the New York governor’s seat his father held for 12 years, promising to take the state back to days of moral integrity and effective government.

“The people have spoken tonight and they have been loud and clear,” the New York governor-elect said Tuesday night with his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo, and his mother, Matilda Cuomo, at his side.

“They are angry they are paying for an economic recession they didn’t cause,” he said. “They are frustrated when they look at the dysfunction and degradation in Albany.

“The mandate is to clean up Albany and have elected officials who represent the people of this state, and not the special interests and not the lobbyists.”

Cuomo promised “a government of competence and performance and integrity.”

He galloped past Republican Carl Paladino, the Buffalo developer who hoped to ride a wave of anger and tea party activism. But unlike tea party members in many races nationwide, Paladino was stopped by the power of Cuomo and a Democratic dynasty.

“Last year, with the unexpected and remarkable ascent of the tea party we saw the passion of people spill into the streets,” Paladino said to cheering supporters. “I joined the tea party movement for the same reason I joined the United States Army, because I love my country.”

Paladino saw success in the loss.

“We opened many eyes in New York,” he said. “We’ve got their attention and it’s our duty to keep our pitchforks ready and never surrender ... what we have accomplished is to begin laying the foundation for turning New York state around. Tonight is not the end of our crusade, it’s the beginning.”

Cuomo, 52, will take over a state in despair ethically and financially. A deficit of at least $8 billion on a $135 billion budget must be addressed by April 1, with more than $20 billion in deficits from chronic overspending projected in the years after that.