Election Day 2025: Who won the key races in Western New York?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Election Day is finally here, and WIVB News 4 is Your Local Election Headquarters. This page includes a rundown of the biggest races across Western New York organized by constituency.

Polls close at 9 p.m. If you need help finding your polling place, click here.

Our Election Results page can be found here.

Buffalo Mayor

Result: Ryan earned a landslide victory, declaring victory around 11 p.m. The Associated Press called the race around 10:20 p.m.

State Senator Sean Ryan (D) is running to become Buffalo's first new full-time mayor since 2006. Ryan has been a State Senator representing part of the city and other suburbs since 2021 and served for a decade in the State Assembly before that.

James Gardner (R) is a former law clerk and assistant district attorney in Erie County and ran unsuccessfully for Erie County district attorney last year. Michael Gainer (I) is a community activist and founder of Buffalo ReUse Action.

The winner of the election will replace Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon and former Mayor Byron Brown, who stepped down in October 2024.

Erie County Comptroller

Result: Hardwick has declared victory in the race. As of 10:45 p.m., he has secured just under 55% of the vote.

Incumbent comptroller Kevin Hardwick (D) is running for a second term against accountant Christine Czarnik (R).

Czarnik is running on a platform of more transparency from the county comptroller office.

Amherst Supervisor

Result: Lavin declared victory and Gagliardo conceded the race. Lavin secured just under 53% of the over 30,000 votes.

Deputy Supervisor Shawn Lavin (D) is running against businessowner Dan Gagliardo (R) for Amherst Supervisor.

A major point of contention in the race is Erie County's purchase of the former Westwood Country Club with plans to turn it into a public golf course and a park. Gagliardo alleged that Lavin helped transferred the property despite relationships with those in Erie County. Lavin said he recused himself from the vote.

The winner of the election will replace Democrat Brian Kulpa, who is term-limited. He was first elected in 2017 and won re-election in 2021.

North Tonawanda Mayor

Result: Tylec appears poised to earn a second term, leading Krantz by 35 points. In addition, it appears that four of the five city council seats were flipped from Republicans to Democrats.

Incumbent Mayor Austin Tylec (D) is running for a second term and will face former Police Chief Tom Krantz (R) on Tuesday.

Tylec has overseen a revitalization of North Tonawanda's downtown since he was first elected in 2021. He has also navigated a Republican-heavy city council.

Krantz joined the North Tonawanda Police Department in 1991 and was named chief in 2020. He retired in March 2022. He is running on a platform of safe neighborhoods, clean streets, and creating development opportunities.

Orchard Park Supervisor

Result: Liberti appears set to become the next Orchard Park supervisor, securing just under 60% of the vote.

As construction on the new Bills stadium continues in Orchard Park, voters will elect a new supervisor.

Town Councilmember Joseph Liberti (R) will face political newcomer Marie Mahon (D) on Tuesday. Liberti has been on the town's zoning board and has been a deputy town supervisor. Mahon has never run for public office.

The winner Tuesday will replace Eugene Majchrzak, who is not running for re-election after one term.

Hamburg Supervisor

Result: Beth Farrell Lorentz appears to have won by a narrow margin, beating Reynolds by just over 100 votes. A 0.3% margin calls for an automatic recount. Lorentz won by 0.7%.

The Hamburg supervisor race has three candidates and one of them is not even on the ballot.

Beth Farrell Lorentz (R) will go up against Bob Reynolds (D) on the ballot while Joshua Collins (I) is running a write-in campaign. Lorentz is a member of the town board, Reynolds is a former Erie County legislator and Collins is a real estate agent.

The winner will replace Acting Supervisor Cathy Rybczynski, who took over for Randy Hoak when Hoak stepped down in January.

Erie County Legislators

Result: There will be no changes to the Erie County Legislature as all 11 incumbents are set to handily win their races.

All 11 Erie County Legislature seats are up for election, five of them with a challenger:

• District 1: Incumbent Lawrence Dupree (D) vs. William Repress (R)
• District 2: Incumbent Taisha St. Jean Tard (D) vs. Betty Jean Grant (I)
• District 3: Incumbent Michael Kooshoian (D) vs. Stephan Monpremier (R)
• District 4: Incumbent John Bargnesi Jr. (D) vs. Scott Marciszewski (R)
• District 5: Incumbent Jeanne Vinal (D) vs. Christina Coyle-Lenz (R)
• District 6: Incumbent Christopher Greene (R) running unopposed
• District 7: Incumbent Timothy Meyers (D) running unopposed
• District 8: Incumbent Frank Todaro (R) running unopposed
• District 9: Incumbent John Gilmour (D) running unopposed
• District 10: Incumbent Lindsay Lorigo (R) running unopposed
• District 11: Incumbent John Mills (R) running unopposed

Chautauqua County Executive

Result: Wendel has been elected to another term, securing over 58% of the vote over Carle.

Incumbent PJ Wendel (R) will go up against Tom Carle (D) in the race for Chautauqua County Executive.

Wendel was appointed county executive in January 2020 and won an election for a full term in 2021. He has worked through water concerns in several towns in Chautauqua County. He also served as a county legislator.

Carle ran an unsuccessful campaign to unseat Congressman Nick Langworthy in New York's 23rd district in 2024. He has lengthy history in the private sector including running small businesses in the Southern Tier.