Politics

Republican Chris Collins declared victory in a very close race against democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul in the 27th Congressional District.  The Associated Press declared Collins the winner after midnight -- with 51-percent of the vote to Hochul's 49-percent.   But as WBFO'S Eileen Buckley reports, Hochul didn't concede until a couple of hours later.

Former TV reporter and public relations guru Stefan Mychajliw was elected Erie County Comptroller Tuesday.

Republican incumbent Mark Grisanti won re-election Tuesday night over his three challengers, doing his part to help maintain the GOP's slim majority in the New York State Senate. 

Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has won election to her first full term representing New York, fending off a challenge from Republican Wendy Long. 

Voter turnout was fairly strong Tuesday morning at several polling locations across the area. 

The candidates in the feisty race in the 27th Congressional District cast their ballots at their respective polling places Tuesday morning.

The long-awaited Election Day 2012 has arrived.   Polling places across New York State opened at 6 a.m. and will remain open through 9 p.m. Tuesday evening.  

Although a recent Siena poll shows that republican incumbent Mark Grisanti has a 2-to-1 lead over his democratic opponent in the 60th state Senate race, a debate was held at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Kenmore Wednesday.  

But WBFO'S Eileen Buckley reports asked if Swanick is considered a spoiler in this three-way race.

The candidates vying for the 60th State Senate seat debated issues Wednesday at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Kenmore. 

It was a three-way debate between Republican incumbent Mark Grisanti, Democrat Mike Amodeo and Conservative Chuck Swanick. 

You can click the play button above to hear the entire debate. 

Students questions ranged from same-sex marriage, funding for public schools, the future of the Buffalo Bills' stadium, and proposed pay raises for state lawmakers. 

With Election Day getting closer, the Erie County Board of Elections is dealing with an avalanche of absentee ballot applications and the problems of getting absentee ballots to the military overseas because of problems in Albany.

County Republican Elections Commissioner Ralph Mohr tells WBFO News there may be as many as 26,000 absentee ballots going out by the end of the elections season. 

Who was the winner in last night's 27th Congressional District debate? 

Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul faced off against her republican opponent Chris Collins in a debate hosted by WNED-TV and WGRZ-TV. 

WBFO'S Eileen Buckley conducted post-debate analysis with former Republican deputy county executive Carl Calabrese and  former Democratic Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello at the WGRZ studio.  

A veteran of many panels at area political debates, Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy believes Tuesday night's debate between Kathy Hochul and Chris Collins was one of the best he has witnessed.

McCarthy was among the panelists at the studios of WNED-TV who posed questions to the candidates in the race for the 27th Congressional district.

As McCarthy sees it, both candidates were very clear in their positions and avoided many of the platitudes that bring little value to political discussions.