What's next for Zellner after Democratic primary defeat?

The WBEN All Local. A daily look at what's happening in Buffalo, Western New York, and the world. I'm Susan Rose. I'm Brian Maserowski. Primary elections are in the books in Western New York's marquee race. John Rivera went to the Democratic nomination for the 61st State Senate District, beating out incumbent and longtime County Democratic Party chair, Jeremy Zellner, with 55% of the vote. Oh, man, it's something I'm still getting used to for sure. It's going to take a while to use to that. I'm just thankful. Honestly, that's what I'm feeling right now. Just grateful for everybody that's been part of the process. It was an uphill climb. You know, we had certain things not in our favor, but in the end, hard work did it. Well, Zellner, who won a special election earlier this year after Sean Ryan vacated the seat to run for Buffalo mayor, spoke last night on Channel 2. I just can't thank the people in this room enough because we took a really big chance. You know, I was encouraged to make this run, resigned from my position at the board, ran a special election, believe it or not, an actual special election where, you know, 30,000 people voted. Back in February, four months, two races, nine amazing staffers hired governmentally that did work that is going to impact our community moving forward. Zellner was the favorite as the incumbent, but again, Rivera wins with 55% of the vote. All right, now let's turn our attention downstate. It was a clean sweep in New York City for Zohran Mamdani-backed candidates. Investigative reporter, Jerev Kovsky, with us on the Bison Automotive Liveline this morning. Jared, how much of a political stunner is this? I mean, in some ways, it was expected, but the mayor is really influential. I have to say, this is one of those races when you take a look at it. Mayor Zohran Mamdani was relatively unknown until the last couple of years. Yes, he was the state assemblyman in Albany, but after being elected as the mayor of New York City, there was the question, would he be able to influence other races or was the home race that he could do just the race that he was elected for as mayor in 2025? Clean sweep three for three. He made three endorse. and the races for Congress in the five boroughs, and all three candidates won, and two of them won overwhelmingly. Yeah, overwhelming victories, and it speaks a lot to maybe what's happening nationally in the Democratic Party. This is going to get a lot of attention. Does that socialist tag work only in New York City, or are Democrats maybe exploring that elsewhere?

It remains to be seen. You know, the mayor only made endorsements in races in areas where he has jurisdiction downstate, but maybe he will start making endorsements in other parts of the country. It remains to be seen. I mean, he's been collaborating extensively with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who is, of course, a Brooklyn native, but represents Vermont. At this point, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made it clear that he's made lots of campaign promises to people in the city. He's promised. free bus service. And again, free buses, as we know, you know, that would have to go through the MTA, which is operated to an extent out of Albany because it's a state agency. So it is in the mayor's best interest in order for him to be able to fulfill his campaign promises to be able to make as many partnerships as possible, both in Albany and in Washington. So it is. You know, it remains to be seen, but it's totally possible that Zohran Mamdani is going to start making additional endorsements in other parts of the country in order to be able to advance the causes that he's championed. Jared, thanks so much. Jared Kofsky, joining us live this morning from New York. Other results? Adam Bojack won nomination in the Democratic primary for the 149th Assembly District. It's a seat being vacated by John Rivera. Bojack took 50% of the vote there. He beat out Karen Hoke and Kevin Deese now faces Republican candidate and current. Hamburg councilman Frank Bogulski in the general election. State comptroller Tom DiNapoli declared victory over two primary challengers, his first primary challenge and his nearly two decades as being comptroller. Aaron Geist defeated Kevin Stocker in the Democratic primary for the 23rd Congressional District. He will run against Nick Langworthy this November. Other news this morning, the Sabres making some big moves ahead of the NHL draft, which will be held here in Buffalo, starting Friday. Monday. Buffalo trading defenseman Bowen Byram and forward Jim Jordan Greenway to Chicago in exchange for the fourth overall pick in the draft, a second round pick and defenseman Luis Crevier. Byron was heading into the final year of his current contract. There were doubts the Sabres could get him to stay in Buffalo at a reasonable number. He scored 11 goals, 31 assists, playing in all 82 games this season. Sabers now hold six picks in the draft, including first round picks number four and number 20. Crevier, six foot eight, by the way. He scored seven goals, 18 assists in Chicago last year. Okay, it'll be interesting to see where they go with these picks. And if they stay where they are, because that could change too. Things have really picked up around here. Yeah. Interesting to say the least they could move number four. They could. Right. And it's all going to happen right here in Buffalo. How exciting is that? And I think that makes that more exciting because it's happening here. Well, on hand for the ribbon cutting yesterday at the new Highmark Stadium, Bill's Hall of Famer, Jim Kelly, who revealed a recent health scare. Kelly said he suffered a minor stroke several weeks ago.

But he was quick to add he's doing well and feeling great. Kelly has had other medical challenges. He's a cancer survivor. He said his scans are clean. And he's focused on moving forward, saying he can't wait for the first game and he can't wait to see how loud the stadium will get. So best wishes to Jim Kelly. Great to hear that he's doing well. And in Wyoming County, a new internet service will be available starting today. WBEN's Tompocket has more. Community-owned internet access arrives in Wyoming County today. Administrator Steve Schrader says Speedy Cow was inspired after schools went remote during COVID. The goal and mission working with our partner community broadband networks was to... provide internet to those across the entire county that either did not have internet service available to them or were underserved. Schrader says broadband is offered at different levels. He says it's tough to compare what he went through to Erie County's efforts with ErieNet. We've got 21 what are called pop sites, point of presence towers that we had to either acquire lease space on or utilize our own towers. That is a very involved process to get those leases in place. So if Erie County is doing what Wyoming County is doing as it relates to providing radio service via towers, then that would take quite a bit of time in design. Hear more about a kickoff event online. Tom Puckett, WBEN.com News. Your exclusive WBEN 7 weather forecast, good deal sunshine for the first part of the day, partly sunny skies this afternoon with highs in the mid-70s. For tonight, clouds will increase with some rain showers after midnight, overnight lows near 60, as we head into your Thursday showers and thunder showers likely with temperatures in the low to mid-70s. With your exclusive WBEN 7 weather forecast, I'm Chief Meteorologist Eraminkowski. And joining us on the line? Republican political strategists, Carl Calabrese, with a look at everything that happened yesterday. Carl, a lot to get to want to start locally, though, and the big race we were following was Jonathan Rivera, Jeremy Zellner. Rivera wins over Zellner, who was the incumbent. After winning that special election, he gets 55% of the vote. You know, there was a big funding advantage for Zellner. But just from what I've noticed watching on TV, I don't know if you would have known that from the outside. Maybe if you were in the district and got a ton of mailers from Zellner more so than Rivera. But in terms of TV spots, in terms of, you know, other things you've seen lawn signs, I would have said it was 50-50. Yeah, you know, there's diminishing returns on mailings and... TV commercials. After a while, people, if they see them enough, begin to just kind of tune them out and just say, okay, I know what I'm going to know who I'm going to vote for. I don't need to see this anymore or absorb this anymore. And so you're pretty much throwing good money after bad in a campaign if you don't come up with something new and unique that really sticks with the voters. So yeah, the money thing was not the issue here. I mean, for the Democrat chairman of the Erie County Democrat Committee.

to get beat in a race that depends on organization getting out the vote. That is a real stinging loss and embarrassment. I think it's fair to say that the Rivera organization, including organized labor, simply outperformed Jeremy Zellner's organization last night. And that's what the surprise is for me. Do you think, Carl, that party leaders might rethink. this new process that we've been seeing in the last few years of trying to push a candidate through with special elections and then primaries. Now, not in this state. I'd be surprised. Let's put it that way, Susan, if the state reformed the election and selection process that way. This. system works more often than not in having the party's chosen ones elected into office succeeding the previous chosen one. So I don't see that. I think the next big thing you're going to see in this state with elections will be trying to institute what they have in California called the jungle primary where you don't have partisan primaries. You have one primary, everybody, Republican, Democrat, working families, conservative. Everyone runs in one primary and the top two finishers go to November. That's what they do in California called the Jungle Primary. There has been a bill submitted in the State Assembly this past session to do that. It doesn't have a companion bill in the Senate, but I'm going to be watching that come January to see if there is a companion bill because I think that's the next move in New York State. And given the huge numbers of Democrats over Republicans in New York, much like California, you almost write the Republican Party out of contention if that happens. So that's what I'm going to be looking for as well. Downstate, Carl, a lot of noise with what happened in some of the New York City area primaries, especially those Zohran Mamdani-backed candidates. All three of them win. What does that mean for the future of the Democratic Party? That's what I was watching for. These three congressional races have huge impacts on the direction of the Democrat Party and the trajectory of Zohran Mamdani as a power within the Democrat Party. All three of his back candidates won, two of them won with big margins. They beat incumbents. This tells you that the Democratic Socialists of America movement is is making headway within the Democrat Party up until yesterday in the last couple of weeks Bernie Sanders backed candidates either members of the DSA or supporters of the agenda of the Democratic Socialism America had one primary so now you add three more last night and let's not forget

Well, a lot to sort through in the coming months as we march toward November in the midterms. Carl, I know you'll be with us along the way. Thanks so much. Carl Calabry's political strategist joining us live right here on WBEN. That's the WBEN All Local. All new episodes are made available each weekday morning, produced by the award-winning WBEN Newsroom.