Chris Collins enters Congressional Race; Mills won't run

Republican former Erie County Executive Chris Collins has officially thrown his hat into the ring for the 27th Congressional District race.

Collins made the announcement on Saturday in an interview with the Buffalo News. Should Collins survive a June primary against fellow Republican David Bellavia, he would face incumbent Democrat Kathy Hochul in November.

Collins suffered a stinging defeat in his re-election bid for County Executive to Mark Poloncarz. In a special election, Hochul upset Jane Corwin, a Republican candidate, who was heavily supported by Collins.

The newly remapped district brings more Republican voters into the fold.  

Erie County Legislator John Mills announced Monday he has decided not to run in the Republican primary for the congressional seat. 

Mills says he would cost at least $1.5 million to campaign competitively for the seat and he says he doesn’t believe he would be able to raise those campaign funds. In a statement he says, "a crowded Republican Primary is no way to ensure the values I cherish will become front and center."

The primary would be held June 26th.  

The newly-redrawn 27th District includes most of Erie County, except for the City of Buffalo, all of Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston counties, and parts of Ontario and Monroe counties.