BUFFALO—Western New York may be testing the strength of Barack Obama's considerable coattails.
Democrat Alice Kryzan lost the 26th congressional district to Republican Chris Lee. According to the Buffalo News, with 70 percent of precincts reporting the tally is 55-40 (and five points going to Jon Powers on the Working Families Party line, an issue of considerable contention).
Earlier tonight I spoke with Len Lenihan, the Erie County Democratic Party chairman. Expecting a defeat for Kryzan, he said, "Keep in mind Chris had three lines, and is a multi-millionaire."
Democratic State Senate candidate Kathy Konst lost her bid to unseat incumbent Republican Dale Volker.
According to Lenihan, State Senate candidate Joe Mesi is running "about 50-50" in a nail-biter race against Mike Ranzenhofer. They're still waiting on returns from neighboring Genessee County.
State Senate Bill Stachowski, who had to bring in the cavalry after a poor showing in a Siena poll last month, seems to be recovering. He's got 53% of the vote with 70% reporting, and is expected here at the Ellicot Square Building later on.
