BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tim Kennedy has been declared the winner in the special election for the 26th US Congressional District seat.
The Associated Press called the race in Kennedy's favor just 17 minutes after the polls closed Tuesday night.
During his victory speech in front of supporters at the Pierce Arrow Museum, Kennedy says he's leaving the New York State Senate better than he found it.
"The Senate was in disarray and corruption was running rampant," Kennedy said. Today, under a Democratic majority in the Senate, we have made our state government more reflective of the people passing laws that strengthen voting rights, and shrining into law, women's and LGBTQ rights, standing up for working people, keeping communities safe and protecting our natural resources."
Now, Senator Kennedy is bound for Congress.
"Now we take this fight to Washington to fix a broken system," Kennedy said to cheers. "We're going to change Washington, just like we changed Albany.
Surrounded by his wife Katie and three children, Kennedy went on to tell the packed Pierce Arrow Museum that he will fight to maintain the affordable care act, codify Roe v. Wade, and called for an assault weapons ban.
"I believe that our best days are immediately in front of us," Kennedy said.
New York Senator Tim Kennedy (D) ran against West Seneca Town Supervisor Gary Dickson (R) for the seat. The winner will serve until December 31, 2024, and will have to run again in November for the next term..
With 90% of the vote in, Kennedy holds a two-to-one lead over Dickson.
"I want to thank the West Seneca supervisor for a spirited campaign," Kennedy said. "I told the supervisor that I look forward to working with him on behalf of our community."
The seat was vacated by former Congressman Brian Higgins. Higgins announced last November that he would be leaving Congress before the end of his current term after growing frustrated with dysfunction in Washington. He started a new job at Shea's Performing Arts Center as their new President and CEO in February.
2 On Your Side asked Kennedy if that dysfunction concerns him like it concerned Higgins.
"I think everybody's concerned about the dysfunction of Washington, and that's why I'm going there," Kennedy said. "We're going there to fix it, to change it, to make a difference.'
Kennedy didn't outline how he would fix it other than saying "people want change," and that "they want Democrats to take the helm."
As for his swearing in, Kennedy said he would likely be sworn in to Congress within two weeks.
Kennedy started his career in the Erie County Legislature, before being elected to the New York State Senate in 2011. Kennedy says he wants to continue to be a voice in the Western New York community from Washington, DC.
Dickson became the first Republican town supervisor in West Seneca in 50 years.
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