Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Anything can happen in politics, right? And it did.
To the surprise of many who watched Carl Paladino enjoy a strong and early lead in the results in the heated Republican primary race for NY23, New York State Republican Party Chairman and challenger Nick Langworthy's campaign was watching a surge of votes come in from the southern tier counties in the expansive redrawn district that would eventually lead to his declaration as the winner in the race.
"Tonight the southern tier made me the comeback kid," exclaimed Langworthy in referencing the critical vote count from the rural southern tier counties.
Paladino, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2010, has a long history of inflammatory and offensive remarks, including recent comments that praised Adolf Hitler and circulated conspiracy theories around mass shootings.
The heated primary came as Langworthy and Paladino sought to replace GOP Rep. Chris Jacobs, who decided not to seek reelection after facing backlash from his own party for voicing support for an assault weapons ban following a racist mass shooting in his hometown of Buffalo in May.
In addition to the primary race, voters moved to fill the vacancy for the rest of the year in the district held for former Rep. Tom Reed.
Republican Joe Sempolinski defeated Democrat Max Della Pia in a special general election to serve out the rest of the year in what is currently New York's 23rd District. Sempolinski will replace Republican Rep. Tom Reed, who resigned in May after being accused of sexual misconduct.
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