Now that they've grabbed the majority in the Erie County Legislature, Republicans are "going to make life miserable for County Executive (Mark) Poloncarz, I think," said Buffalo News Political Bob McCarthy during a post-election conversation on WBFO's Morning Edition.
The election results offer other benefits in the Legislature.
"The Republican Party wields more power in controlling patronage in places like the Water Authority," McCarthy said.
"The Democrats who have been used to getting their way there for many, many years are now going to have to pay attention to (Republican) Chairman John Mills. "
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown dismissed Republican challenger Sergio Rodriguez on his way to a third term in City Hall.
Noting the construction cranes visible near Canalside and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, McCarthy believes Brown's image was too much for Rodriguez's energetic upstart campaign to overcome.
"I've always said that politics is the right alignment of the stars, moon and planets, and they're in pretty good position for Byron Brown right now."