State Sen. Timothy Kennedy on Wednesday won New York’s special election to fill the congressional seat left vacant by fellow Democrat Rep. Brian Higgins.
“Because that’s what this was all about since Day One. And that’s what it will always be about. I’m honored. I’m humbled. I’m ready to get to Washington and get to work,” he added.
Mr. Kennedy defeated Republican Gary Dickson for the upstate New York seat, helped by a 2-to-1 Democrat registration advantage in the district, which includes Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and several suburbs.
He will serve in Congress for the rest of the year. Mr. Kennedy has said that he would in Congress focus on reproductive rights, immigration, and stronger gun laws like those passed in New York after a 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket.
Former Grand Island town supervisor Nate McMurray, who planned to challenge Mr. Kennedy in a Democrat primary, announced Tuesday that he had been removed from the ballot due to insufficient signatures.
Mr. Kennedy announced his candidacy in November 2023, two days after Mr. Higgins submitted his resignation from the seat. Several state and county leaders, including Sen. Sean Ryan, formally endorsed him.
“I’ve always been a little impatient, and that trait has helped us deliver remarkable progress for this community. But the pace in Washington, D.C., can be slow and frustrating, especially this year,” Mr. Higgins said.
“Therefore, after thoughtful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to leave Congress and explore other ways I can build up and serve Buffalo and Western New York,” he added.
While in Congress, Mr. Higgins has been credited with leading efforts to revitalize Buffalo’s waterfront, starting in 2005 when he negotiated funding from the New York Power Authority, which sells hydropower produced with water diverted from Niagara Falls. He is co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus and Bipartisan Cancer Caucus and a member of the Great Lakes Task Force.
