Assemblyman Sean Ryan won a massive victory yesterday, with Democratic voters probably sending him back to Albany for a full two-year term.
There's no Republican on the November ballot against Ryan, only Conservative Joseph Mascia who pulled a small percentage of the vote in the Democratic primary.
The incumbent rolled over long-time activist Kevin Gaughan roughly two-to-one.
Ryan says he was told it would be tough to win that full term, since he was only serving out the last year of Sam Hoyt's term after the long-time assemblyman left for a job with Governor Cuomo.
We ran a very, very good campaign. Very tight campaign. We talked about the issues that are important to Western New Yorkers," Ryan said.
"It's a good time to be in a position of leadership in governance in Buffalo and in New York State. The (Cuomo) administration has shown tremendous interest Western New York. "
Ryan is going back to an Assembly in turmoil with Speaker Sheldon Silver facing legal and political problems and a major ethics probe of the way the place runs.
"I can tell you I did my best," Gaughan told WBFO and AM970 News.
Noted for his campaigns to consolidate local government, Gaughan says he presented himself as an "independent Democrat as opposed to a party Democrat. I think it had the effect of, shall we say, of rallying the party in an effort to defend itself."
