Primaries for three U.S. House seats, a special election for one of those seats, and a state senate primary were on the ballot for the Western New York region Tuesday. Here are the results you need to know.
Langworthy declares victory over Paladino in NY-23 GOP primary
After trailing for most of the evening, New York State GOP Chairmain Nick Langworthy came back to defeat Buffalo real estate developer Carl Paladino in the Republican primary for the redrawn New York 23rd Congressional District.
According to unofficial results from the New York State Board of Elections, Langworthy earned 51.1% of the vote, compared to just 46.9% for Paladino. That's with 93% of election districts reporting.
Paladino won Erie County by a wide margin of 2-to-1, but Langworthy carried all of the other six counties in the district.
Langworthy declared victory from his Clarence headquarters, and the Associated Press called the race for him at about 12:30 a.m. However, Paladino did not concede. A campaign spokesperson told his Orchard Park watch party that they hope to have more answers Wednesday.
The winner of the primary is likely to move on to Congress, given the heavily conservative nature of the district, but they'll still have to face Democrat Max Della Pia in the general election this November.
GOP's Sempolinski to briefly serve NY-23 after special election win over Della Pia
Della Pia lost out on the chance to serve the 23rd District as its currently drawn for the remainder of 2022.
He earned just 46.3% of the vote in a special election, compared to 52.8% for Steuben County GOP Chair Joe Sempolinski.
Sempolinski will now serve just a four-month term in Congress, as he chose not to run in the general.
The special election was triggered by U.S. Rep. Tom Reed resigning to take a lobbying job in May. Reed announced last year he wouldn't seek reelection after a former lobbyist accused him of sexual misconduct.
Tenney wins GOP primary for NY-24 that now stretches into WNY
U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney won the Republican nod for the redrawn 24th Congressional District that now includes all of Wyoming and Genesee counties and parts of Niagara and Orleans counties.
Tenney earned 53.4% of the vote, compared to 40.1% for attorney Mario Fratto. George Phillips, who was not actively campaigning, earned 5.8%.
Tenney currently represents the 22nd District, but chose to run in the 24th after maps were redrawn.
She will face Democrat Steven Holden this fall.
Higgins easily bests Egriu in NY-26 Dem primary
U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, facing his first primary challenge as an incumbent congressman, easily defended himself against Emin Egriu and will once again be the Democratic candidate for the 26th Congressional District.
Higgins earned 90.3% of the vote, while Egriu, a Buffalo contractor, earned just 8.6%.
Higgins will now face Republican Steven Sams II in the general election this November, but figures to be heavily favored in a solidly blue district that includes the city of Buffalo.
Ryan cruises past Carlise in Dem primary for 61st State Senate District
Another incumbent Buffalo Democrat easily handled his primary challenger on the state level.
State Sen. Sean Ryan earned 80.9% of the vote in New York's 61st State Senate District, while Ben Carlisle, who ran as a write-in candidate for Buffalo mayor last year, earned just 8.6%.
Ryan faces Republican State Sen. Edward Rath III, who was essentially uncontested in the GOP primary. Rath is the incumbent senator for the 61st District, but redistricting combined his and Ryan's districts together.
