BUFFALO, N.Y. — Democratic New York Senator Tim Kennedy has announced he will run for NY's 26th Congressional district following Congressman Brian Higgins' announcement he is resigning in February.
Kennedy posted his announcement on social media saying, "I'm running for Congress because I want my children, and all of our children, to have the opportunity to stay here and build a future for themselves and their families."
Now 47, Kennedy has held political office since he was 28, both in the Erie County Legislature for six years, and in the New York State Senate where he's been since 2011.
"The easy opportunity is to do nothing and stay in the Senate and continue to do the work that I'm doing. This is something I believe in strongly, we need good people in Congress and I'm up for the challenge," Kennedy said during an interview with 2 On Your Side Tuesday afternoon.
Kennedy and Higgins, both from South Buffalo, have been joined at the hip politically for two decades.
"I work to try to emulate what Congressman Higgins does and has done through his work ethic and commitment...what I'm going to do in Washington DC is to continue to emulate his work," Higgins said.
One issue that would require the backing of a congressional representative would be the proposed expansion of NFTA Metro rail to Amherst.
It was something that Higgins had championed before turning cool to the idea in recent years.
However, this seems to be one area where the two have a different point of view.
When asked if he supported the expansion, Kennedy replied, "Certainly. Not only in Amherst but other areas of our community."
The 26th Congressional District includes parts of Erie and Niagara counties, including the cities of Buffalo and Niagara Falls.
"That district is about as blue as Congressman Langworthy's district is red," said Erie County Republican Chairman Michael Kracker, in describing the NY 26th.
However, despite a heavy enrollment edge for Democrats, Kracker expects the GOP to field a candidate.
"If someone were ever interested in running a campaign in 26th district, an environment like this is the time you want to do it," said Kracker, in noting that there will be a special election to replace Higgins in April, followed by a primary election for the seat less than two months later, followed by the general election in November.
"I think there probably will be some jockeying on the Democratic side," Kracker said.
Kennedy also expected to be challenged for the party's nomination for the seat by one or more members of his own party.
"There are going to be candidates that come forward with a United States Congressional seat...certainly," he said.
U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-N.Y., said Sunday he will leave Congress before the end of his current term after growing frustrated with dysfunction in Washington.
“It's just a time for change, and I think this is the time,” Higgins, 64, said at a news conference. He plans to leave office during the first week of February, he said.
Higgins, who serves on the House Ways and Means and Budget committees, began his 10th term in January.
“Congress is not the institution that I went to 19 years ago. It’s a very different place today,” he said. “We’re spending more time doing less, and the American people aren’t being served.”
Higgins joins a number of Congress members who have recently announced they would not seek reelection next year, including Republican Rep. Brad Wenstrup of Ohio, who added his name to the list last week.
“I want to come back to the city and serve this city that I have represented in Washington for the past 19 years,” Higgins said during his announcement at the Buffalo History Museum. He said he had been fielding offers but did not know what he would do next.