Buffalo News reporters covered races across Western New York on Tuesday night, from Buffalo mayor and Erie County sheriff to Niagara County Legislature and Olean mayor. Read our full coverage from Election Day and see photos and video from News photographers on the scene.
Voter turnout strong in Erie County, but not record-setting
Voter turnout in Erie County this year appeared to be on track to rival the turnout four years ago, in the last sheriff race.
With 98% of precincts reporting by 11 p.m., nearly 210,000 ballots had been counted in the sheriff's race. Four years ago, 219,067 people voted for sheriff.
See photos from Election Day through Erie and Niagara counties, as people cast their votes and candidates attended election night celebrations.
Byron Brown claims victory in Buffalo mayor's race; write-in ballots swamp India Walton
Byron Brown, considered politically dead by many following his stunning defeat in the June primary for mayor of Buffalo, appears to have resurrected his long career as he claimed victory Tuesday in his bruising write-in campaign against Democratic nominee India Walton.
The growing accumulation of write-in votes point to a significant lead for Brown and the first time any Buffalo mayor has won a fifth term. Walton refused to concede, but that did not stop Brown from proclaiming victory at around 10:30 p.m. to cheers at his Washington Street headquarters.
Following are unofficial tallies of votes counted on election night, which include early vote and Election Day tallies. They do not include absentee ballots.
Watch now: Mayor Byron Brown declares victory over India Walton
Analysis: Walton failed to broaden support beyond her primary base
When she toppled four-term Mayor Byron Brown in the Democratic primary in June, India B. Walton showed herself to be one confident democratic socialist.
“This victory is ours, and it’s the first of many," she said. "If you are in an elected office right now, you are being put on notice. We are coming.”
With 98% of precincts reporting by 11 p.m., nearly 210,000 ballots had been counted in the sheriff's race. Four years ago, 219,067 people voted for sheriff.
Following are unofficial tallies of votes counted on election night, which include early vote and Election Day tallies. They do not include absentee ballots.
Mayoral candidate India Walton speaks to the media in the press room outside her election night party at Main Events Banquet Hall as ballots are tallied in her contest against incumbent Byron Brown who waged a write-in campaign for reelection, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. (Derek Gee / Buffalo News)
Derek Gee / Buffalo News
There was some lively campaigning outside the Delavan Grider Community Center polling site for India Walton and Byron Brown.
Watch now: Campaigning for Walton and Brown at Delavan Grider
Garcia holds tight lead in Erie County sheriff race; absentees will identify winner
Republican John C. Garcia was clinging to a slim lead in the race for Erie County sheriff late Tuesday, but the outcome remained too close to call. A clear winner will emerge only after a potential 19,000 absentee ballots are counted in coming days.
Garcia, the candidate endorsed by departing Sheriff Timothy B. Howard and a slew of police unions, produced strong results, even with two other Republican-leaning candidates draining him of votes. He led Democrat Kimberly Beaty by around 6,000 votes after the vast majority of ballots were counted late in the evening.
2021 general election results: Erie County sheriff
Following are unofficial tallies of votes counted on election night, which include early vote and Election Day tallies. They do not include absentee ballots.
Hardwick defeats Dixon in Erie County comptroller's race
In the hard-fought battle for the Erie County comptroller's seat, Democrat Kevin Hardwick defeated Republican-endorsed Lynne Dixon.
"Thank you to my campaign team, my family, and most of all, the voters of Erie County who chose to vote for integrity and good government today," Hardwick said after his victory. "I look forward to serving as your next Erie County comptroller and bringing back the respect it deserves."
With two candidates who have name recognition and political and mass media experience, the campaign is becoming a case study in political science and targeted advertising.
Both Republican candidate Lynne Dixon and Democratic County Legislator Kevin Hardwick have accused their opponents of making self-serving political deals that restrict their ability to be truly independent financial watchdogs.
Erie County Legislature maintains Democratic majority, but margin could change
The Erie County Legislature will spend another two years in Democratic hands as a result of Tuesday's election, but with one race still too close to call, it is unsettled whether the Republican-supported minority caucus managed to close the gap.
The Legislature has a 7-4 Democratic majority, but in the two most contested races, only one was clearly decided. The race between 9th District Democratic incumbent John Gilmour and Republican challenger Frank Bogulski narrowed considerably over the course of the night. Democratic Legislator Jeanne Vinal won re-election to a second term in the 5th district.
Erie County town elections: Hoak prevails in hotly contested Hamburg race
Hamburg Democrat Randy Hoak beat back an attempt by his GOP opponent, Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw Jr., to tie him to progressive policies of the Working Families Party.
Hoak won election to the seat once held by his late father, Patrick H. Hoak.
Two state ballot propositions pass, with three on way to defeat
ALBANY – New Yorkers Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to enact new – if vague – protections for the environment, enshrining in the state constitution a right to a “healthful environment," which backers say is crucial to positioning the state against worsening climate change woes.
The proposal, one of five to go before voters statewide, was comfortably ahead as votes came in Tuesday night. Also easily passing: a measure to try to ease civil case backlogs in the state court system.
Niagara County GOP has a big night, but Tylec wins North Tonawanda mayor race
In a contest between veteran City of Lockport attorneys, Niagara County voters chose Republican John J. Ottaviano as the new County Court judge Tuesday.
His win was part of a strong night for the GOP, which may have added two seats to its County Legislature majority and won two of three Niagara Falls Council seats.
Hoak wins in Hamburg, defying Mychajliw's 'socialist' attacks
Hamburg Democrat Randy Hoak beat back an attempt by his opponent, Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw Jr., to tie him to progressive policies of the Working Families Party.
Hoak, a Democrat, won election to the seat once held by his late father, Patrick H. Hoak. Randy Hoak’s sister, Karen, also is a member of the Town Board.
Voters re-elect Olean Mayor William J. Aiello by wide margin
Olean Mayor William J. Aiello, a Republican, won reelection by a nearly 3-to-1 margin Tuesday, defeating Gary W. Harvey Jr., a candidate on minor party lines, according to the Cattaraugus County Board of Elections.
Unofficial totals showed Aiello with 1,411 votes to Harvey’s 493.
Republicans will remain in control of the Orchard Park Town Board with the election of Eugene L. Majchrzak as supervisor and three Council members.
Majchrzak, a councilman for 12 years, will lead an upsized board of five members with the addition of two Council positions. Democrat Daniel Teplesky, a retired school superintendent, lost his bid to lead the town.
Some Buffalo polling sites report steady flow of voters, but turnout low at many others
Voter turnout in Erie County this year appeared to be on track to rival the turnout four years ago, in the last sheriff race.
With 98% of precincts reporting by 11 pm, nearly 210,000 ballots had been counted in the sheriff's race. Four years ago, 219,067 people voted for sheriff.
Election officials will not begin examining the actual write-in votes until Nov. 16 when all absentee and military ballots are returned to the Board of Elections.
Real estate developers like Douglas Jemal and Carl P. Paladino clung to the Brown campaign, pouring money into his effort in hopes that they could save the development-friendly administration. And it worked.
Election results left Republicans and conservatives cheering, but also made clear that a battle very much rages within the Democratic Party – the dominant party in New York State – between a very liberal wing, old school liberals and moderates.
