Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - With a power shift in Albany, there is widespread speculation that a local State Senator, who has had success in a largely Democratic district, may be eyeing a different office this year.
State Senator Chris Jacobs, is moving from the majority to the minority, as power dynamics are changing in Albany and Democrats take control of the upper chamber.
Jacobs did not deny that he's considering it in an interview with WBEN Wednesday morning. "I just came through an election, and we're having our first child today, tomorrow or maybe Saturday. Those are the things I'm focused on," said Jacobs.
"With the new year starting now, I'm sure sometime I'll give it a look," he said. " I always try to look where I can make the biggest impact in our community and I certainly will do that in terms of the County Executive's race".
Jacobs was elected to the State Senate in January 2017. Prior to that he served as Erie County Clerk for 5 years.
In terms of the change in the balance of power in the State Senate, Jacobs said he is sure it will be different but he said he's going to do the peoples' work and he'll find a way to do it in the majority or the minority.
While Republicans will not determine the agenda in terms of legislation, the Senator did share his priorities. He pointed to recent studies showing that New York State is losing more population at a greater pace than any other state in the nation. "If that's not a crisis, then I don't know what is," he said.
"It's getting worse in Central and Western New York. There's not enough focus on why so many people are fleeing the state," he said . Jacobs doesn't buy Governor Andrew Cuomo's recent answer that it's the weather. "There are many states with weather like ours, that are thriving. This is a crisis. The census is coming up and we will lose Congressional representation, but we will lose more representation if the population loss continues. We have to right this ship," he said.