Democratic incumbent Mark Poloncarz raised just over $720,000 in 2023 for his bid to be re-elected to a fourth term as Erie County Executive, more than four times the approximately $179,000 raised by his Republican challenger, Chrissy Casilio.
Poloncarz’s numbers were buoyed by strong fundraising in the last weeks of the race. He raised just over $185,000 between Oct. 3 and Oct. 23, which makes up over a quarter of all the funds his campaign collected in 2023. Casilio only raised about $24,700 during the same three-week period.
Both campaigns have been fueled by a mix of small and large donations. You can see who’s donated the most to Poloncarz and Casilio here:
Poloncarz:
| Total Donations | Donor | |
| 1 | $ 25,000.00 | Erie County Sheriff's PBA, the union that represents Erie County sheriff's deputies |
| 2 | $ 25,000.00 | Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman, LLP, a law firm with two office in Erie County |
| 3 | $ 25,000.00 | Micheal Joseph, a real estate developer who splits his time between New York and Florida |
| 4 | $ 25,000.00 | New York State Laborers' PAC, the PAC for the LiUNA union |
| 5 | $ 22,500.00 | Gerald A. Buchheit, a Buffalo-area businessman and real estate developer |
| 6 | $ 18,500.00 | NASRCC Political Education Committee, the PAC for a carpenters' union |
| 7 | $ 16,500.00 | Ryan Rich |
| 8 | $ 15,000.00 | 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, a healthcare workers' union |
| 9 | $ 15,000.00 | Doug Jemal, a real estate developer |
| 10 | $ 13,625.00 | Jody E. Briandi, president of the Hurwitz Fine law firm |
Casilio:
| Total Donations | Donor | |
| 1 | $ 31,483.80 | Patrick Hotung, president of the Main Place Liberty Complex |
| 2 | $ 12,500.00 | Jason Newman, |
| 3 | $ 6,491.90 | Casilio Communications, LLC, Casilio's company |
| 4 | $ 5,000.00 | Donald Hoffman, |
| 5 | $ 5,000.00 | LJ Construction WNY, LLC |
| 6 | $ 5,000.00 | Nicholas Sinatra, founder and CEO of Sinatra and Company Real Estate |
| 7 | $ 5,000.00 | Paul Stephen, real estate developer |
| 8 | $ 5,000.00 | Wargo Enterprises Inc., Akron-based demolition company |
| 9 | $ 3,599.00 | Phillips Lytle, LLP, law firm with offices in Buffalo |
| 10 | $ 2,602.54 | Jeffrey Williams, real estate developer |
Voters in Erie County can cast their ballots early on any day until Sunday, Nov. 5. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.