Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - After a neck-and-neck race for the 143rd State Assembly District in the 2024 Election, Republican candidate Patrick Chludzinski declared victory over Democratic incumbent Assemblymember Monica Wallace late Tuesday night.
"We were optimistic in the entire course of the campaign, and we felt confident and saw the results tonight. I think just the fact that I've been a member of our community, grew up in Cheektowaga-Sloan. I lived there my whole life, worked in the community," stated Chludzinski during his victory speech at GOP headquarters in Downtown Buffalo.
Chludzinski, who worked as a Cheetowaga Police Officer for over 25 years, says he believes his background in criminal justice, and his views on immigration, resonated with the people in his district.
"We need someone that's going to stand up for our district and not allow New York City to just send migrants to our to our town without the consent of any of the residents. I think that's people are, you know, they want a good quality of life. They want safe neighborhoods, and they've lived there their whole life. They pay taxes. They don't want this in their neighborhoods," Chludzinksi stated.
At the time Chludzinski declared victory in the 143rd Assembly District race, Wallace did not conceded the election, while Erie County Democratic Chair Jeremy Zellner called the race is too close to call.
However, Wallace ended up conceding in the race Wednesday morning via social media.
The 143rd Assembly District covers the Erie County towns of Cheektowaga and Lancaster, and the villages of Depew, Lancaster and Sloan.