Governor Andrew Cuomo will soon officially announce that special elections to fill 11 vacant seats in the new York State Legislature will take place April 24, a source within state government confirmed Wednesday.
WBFO Albany Correspondent Karen Dewitt received confirmation by the unnamed Albany source, who said an official announcement will be made in the coming days.
The New York Daily News first reported that Governor Cuomo had decided on a date for special elections.
Of the 11 vacant seats up for grabs, one is in Western New York. That is the 142nd Assembly District seat previously held by Michael Kearns, who was elected Erie County Clerk in November 2017. The district covers West Seneca, Orchard Park and portions of Lackawanna and Buffalo.
Erie County Legislator Patrick Burke, a Democrat, announced his candidacy for the open seat on January 2. There's no word yet on any candidates who may run on the Republican line.
Within the 142nd Assembly District, registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by a little more than two-to-one margin.