While votes are still being tallied, early polling data – and inside campaign sources close to both campaigns who have spoken to Buffalo Rising – have made it clear that Kathy Hochul will defeat Jane Corwin and Jack Davis in the special election to fill Chris Lee’s vacant House of Representatives seat.
The 26th Congressional District of New York, which stretches from Amherst to Monroe County, is a Republican district and Hochul’s victory is an upset. Indeed, Republicans have held the seat for 40 out of the past 50 years. Corwin ran a lackluster campaign which included some strange behavior including a staged video showdown between her campaign manager and Jack Davis (video below). Of course, based on the most recent census, it’s unclear how long NY26 will be a viable district as WNY is likely to lose a seat in the House of Representatives.
So – what do you think about Kathy Hochul joining Brian Higgins and Louise Slaughter in the WNY delegation?