Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - In the days since the news of Rep. Brian Higgins' intentions to resign from Congress come early February, there's already been a number of names circulating the political realm, especially on the Democratic side, that could be ideal candidates to replace the longtime Congressman representing New York's 26th Congressional district.
Before Higgins' official resignation announcement this past Sunday, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown issued a statement on Friday saying he looks forward to having conversations about NY-26 in Washington, D.C. "when the appropriate time comes."
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However, Tuesday saw the first local Democratic leader formally toss their hat in the ring for NY-26, as State Sen. Tim Kennedy is gearing up to make a run for Higgins' seat in the nation's capital.
"This is personal, not just for me, but for families across Western New York," said Kennedy in an interview with WBEN on Tuesday.
Kennedy has a number of issues he is hoping to address if he were to be elected to represent Western New York in Congress, including the protection of a woman's right to healthcare choices, ensuring more healthcare options for all, enhanced federal gun safety laws and actions to take military-grade weapons off the streets, continuing local investments and further job opportunities, and more.
"These are just a number of issues that I'll be fighting for, but at the end of the day, I've got the will, the drive and the passion to do everything I need to do to deliver for Western New York in Congress, and I've got a track record to prove it in New York already," Kennedy said.
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Kennedy believes that his track record of fixing dysfunction in Albany can help change the culture of what's happening in Washington, D.C. He feels part of that can be attributed to his optimistic nature working in government.
"I believe in Buffalo, I believe in Western New York, and I truly love what our community has become. That's why I'm raising my family here," Kennedy said. "I've seen how far we've come, but I also know that we've got a lot more work to do. When our community is living in poverty, we have to do better. When we have health disparities and racial injustices that continue to persist within our community, we need to do better. When there's access to just simple things like fresh food that's a barrier, we have to do better than that. Again, we see these radical extremists continuing to attempt to strip away the rights for women and the LGBTQ community across our nation, we need to fight back."
Kennedy says he has what's best for the Western New York community in mind, and he's confident he is the ideal candidate for the job in Washington. He adds the early support in his formal announcement Tuesday has been overwhelmingly positive and generous from colleagues across the state, across the nation, and from individuals within the community.
"These are friends of mine, people that I have a great love and affinity for that I've worked to help to rectify many of the issues that have resulted from a depressed community over generations to one that has great hope now. And I'm looking to bring this optimistic attitude, this passion for the community, and this hope for the future down to Washington, and really change things and fix things in the halls of Congress to work together with individuals to make sure that we're delivering not just for our community here, not just for New York, but for the rest of our nation as well," Kennedy said.
Meanwhile, with Higgins set to step down in February, it opens the possibility for the chance of a special election to fill the NY-26 seat for the remainder of the term through 2024. That special election would see the Erie County and Niagara County Democratic Committee come together and select a candidate to potentially run against a candidate selected by both counties' Republican Committee.
Kennedy is certainly confident that he is the best person to fill the nomination as the Democratic candidate in an upcoming special election, if Gov. Kathy Hochul happens to call on the election after Higgins' resignation.
"That's the process that we have, and we'll go through that process. Most importantly, when November rolls around, the electorate will choose who is the best individual to serve in Congress, and I believe that I have everything it takes to be that person," Kennedy said.
Another potential Democratic candidate that has been linked to be a fit for the seat in Congress representing NY-26 is fellow State Sen. Sean Ryan.
While Ryan did not specify whether or not he is interested in potentially running for the seat in Congress this early in the process, he does anticipate a lot of strong candidates to come forward and express their interest to represent Western New York in Washington.
"We're gonna be working with the Erie County Democratic Committee and the Niagara County Democratic Committee, and all the town committees. And the big goal here is to stay unified, and to make sure we keep that seat a Democratic seat," said Ryan in an interview with WBEN. "But right now, I'm super happy representing the people of Western New York in the New York State Senate."
Ryan understands that a role in Congress is enticing to many people, but does point to the ongoing dysfunction in Washington as a reason why leaders like Rep. Higgins are stepping away from their roles.
"We're getting stuff done in New York State, we're hoping Washington and Congress becomes more of a functional place, but we're going to work hard over the next few weeks, and we're going to put forth the best candidate to fill that seat," Ryan said.
"We're in a period of hyperpartisanship ever since the last Presidential election, people are still saying the election was stolen. It seems like there's not a whole lot of reality now in the really hyperpartisan electorate, so I hope time is something that heals that. But there's still a whole portion of the United States of America who thinks that Jan. 6 was just a protest, not an insurrection... it's a real confusing time. But we hope with dialogue and time that we get back to the America that we know and that we want to return to. Right now, we're not there."
When it comes to the potential of a special election, Ryan says it's a process that's always being tinkered with, especially at the state level.
"We changed the process last year to make special elections mandatory and not permissive. Now the rules says the governor must call within 10 days, and must hold an election within 80 days until you get to May. Once you get to May and it's really close to the next primary, then there is no special, you just go to a primary," Ryan explained. "So right now, if Congressman Higgins delays much past February, we'll be past the special election period. But certainly the closer you get to the June primary, it does make you shrug your shoulder and say, 'Why are we doing a special?'"
Meanwhile, WBEN reached out to the office of Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and received this statement:
"The County Executive is currently on vacation after a very long year, and will talk to the media when he returns to Western New York."
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