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8.18.21 Advocacy Alert: Primary Day #2 Next Week 

On Tuesday, August 23, voters will head to the polls for a second round of primary elections.  

In June, voters selected primary nominees for Governor and Erie County Clerk. Because the State Legislature’s redistricting maps were thrown out in court, however, primaries for Congressional and State Senate races were moved to August.  

Early voting is open now. Look up your polling place and sample ballot here: (Erie County) (Niagara County). Note that primary elections are only open to voters registered in that party.    

The BNP encourages all members to participate in these elections and support candidates that understand the needs and barriers of our regional economy.   

23rd Congressional District - Special Election 

Rep. Tom Reed retired this year, so this race is being held to fill his vacancy. The winner of this race will only serve the remainder of Reed’s term, until January. The district includes Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties and spans across the Southern Tier to Ithaca. Candidates include Joe Sempolinski (R,C) and Max Della Pia (D, WF).  

23rd Congressional District – Republican Primary 

The newly-drawn 23rd district includes Clarence, Lancaster, West Seneca, Orchard Park, Hamburg, the rest of rural Erie County, and much of the Southern Tier. The hotly-contested primary includes Nick Langworthy, who heads the State Republican Party, and Carl Paladino, the GOP’s 2010 nominee for Governor. The winner will face Democrat Max Della Pia in November.  

24th Congressional District – Republican Primary  

The sprawling new 24th district includes eastern Niagara County and stretches north past Watertown. Candidates include incumbent Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, Mario Fratto,  and George Phillips. The winner will face Democrat Steven Holden in November.  

26th Congressional District – Democratic Primary 

The new 26th district includes Buffalo, West Seneca, Cheektowaga, Amherst, the Tonawandas, Grand Island, and western Niagara County. Candidates include incumbent Congressman Brian Higgins and Eddie Egriu. The winner will face Republican Steven Sams II in November.   

61st Senate District – Democratic Primary 

The new 61st District includes Buffalo, the Tonawandas, Grand Island, and Amherst. Incumbent Senator Sean Ryan will face off against attorney Benjamin Carlisle. The winner will face presumed Republican nominee Ed Rath in November.  

61st Senate District – Republican and Conservative Primaries 

Joel Giambra dropped out of this race in July, but his name remains on the ballot. Accordingly, incumbent Sen. Ed Rath is the presumed winner of both races, but it is not final until the ballots are counted. Rath will face the winner of the Ryan/Carlisle showdown in November.