Democratic state Sen. Tim Kennedy has emerged victorious in the special election for New York’s 26th Congressional District, according to CNN projections. This win further diminishes the already slim majority held by Republicans in the US House, albeit temporarily.
Kennedy will take over from fellow Democrat Brian Higgins, who represented the Buffalo-based district until his resignation. Kennedy triumphed over Republican nominee Gary Dickson, the West Seneca town supervisor, in Tuesday’s election.
Once Kennedy takes his oath on Capitol Hill, the GOP majority in the House will dwindle to a mere 217-213. This means that Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford to lose one Republican vote on a party-line vote. However, the GOP’s advantage in the chamber may be bolstered by three upcoming special elections for vacant Republican seats, including the race to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.
Higgins, who had been a representative for the Buffalo area in the House since 2005, resigned in February to lead a local performing arts center. He expressed his frustration with the continuous turmoil and obstructionism in the chamber when announcing his departure from Congress.
Kennedy, a long-time representative of the area in the state Senate, will complete the remainder of Higgins’ term. He will also contest in the June primary for the full two-year term that commences in January.
The New York congressional map has been subject to a tumultuous redistricting process, spanning over two years and involving numerous court and state legislative battles. However, the 26th District is anticipated to remain a Democratic stronghold – under the new lines to be used in November, Joe Biden would have won it by a 25-point margin.
The total expenditure on advertising for the race amounted to approximately $1 million, with the lion’s share coming from Kennedy’s campaign. His advertisements highlighted his efforts to assist working families, his support for abortion rights, and his push for “stronger gun laws” in the state Senate following a mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket by a White supremacist in May 2022.
Kennedy’s victory marks the second consecutive special election win for New York Democrats, following Tom Suozzi’s win in a more competitive downstate district earlier this year to replace expelled Republican Rep. George Santos. Once Kennedy is sworn in, the state’s US House delegation will comprise 16 Democrats and 10 Republicans.
Contributions to this report were made by CNN’s Ethan Cohen, David Wright, and Renée Rigdon.