Special election for Higgins' seat set for April 30

Feb. 12—A special election to fill the 26th Congressional District seat recently vacated by Brian Higgins will be held on April 30, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday.

Higgins stepped down from Congress on Feb. 2 to become the next president at Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo.

"From our days representing Western New York in Congress together to our partnership in the years since I am grateful for Brian's service to our state and our country," Hochul said. "I wish him all the best as he embarks on a new chapter of service and look forward to working with his successor to improve the lives of New Yorkers."

The 26th Congressional District covers the cities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Tonawanda and North Tonawanda, the towns of Amherst, Grand Island, Cheektowaga and Lewiston and other parts of Niagara County.

Niagara County Democrats have formally nominated state Sen. Tim Kennedy as their preferred candidate in the upcoming special election.

In announcing the committee's decision last month, Niagara County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Borgatti described Kennedy — whose state senate district does not include Niagara Falls — as a "long-time friend" and "supporter" of the community who has "delivered valuable resources to this community as transportation chair and helped pass reforms that address the corruption at the Western Region Off-Track Betting."

His tireless work ethic, commitment to working people and democratic principles made supporting his candidacy a no-brainer," Borgatti said.

Kennedy has also been nominated as the party's preferred candidate by the Erie County Democratic Committee.

Local Republicans have not yet announced a preferred candidate for the special election.

The special election is just the first race for the 26th District seat this year. It will also be contested in party primaries in June and a general election in November.

Former Town of Grand Island Supervisor Nate McMurray said he will be running for the seat after being spurned in the special election process by Erie County Democrats.