Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As voters headed to the polls Tuesday, two local party chairmen were holding two different visions on how the midterm elections will play out across the state.
Erie County Democrat and Republican party chairmen, Jeremy Zellner and Michael Kracker appeared on WBEN Tuesday morning.
"I'm real excited about today," said Kracker. The newly elected GOP chairman adding, "I think we have a real opportunity to change the direction of our state and our country."
Kracker became leader of the Erie County Republican party in October.
On the tight race for New York Governor, between incumbent Kathy Hochul and challenger Lee Zeldin, he said it comes down to energy and issues.
"I have had the opportunity to travel throughout Erie County and the state, and I have seen first hand the frustration from the people of New York with the out of control affordability crisis and the rise in violent crime and Kathy Hochul's record on both of those issues is abysmal."
Kracker went on to say that Lee Zeldin represents a significant change in
direction in a state that badly needs it.
"Lee Zeldin, the Erie County Republican Committee and other organizations
across the state have been building a tremendous effort and we are going to
turn out the vote today," he said.
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Democrat chairman Jeremy Zellner sees the race at the top of the ballot very differently.
"You're seeing lots of dark money coming into this race. One man donating ten million dollars to Lee Zeldin's campaign," as reported by The New York Times. "When you generate that kind of money, you can put out ads that say anything and really take a kneecapping to your opponent."
Zellner said that's what has happened in the New York governor's race. "But I'm confident that Hochul will get out the vote in Erie County and across the state and be elected Tuesday evening."
On the biggest issue in the campaign, Zellner said crime has been seized upon by Zeldin but he has no plan to combat it and has missed three crime votes in congress. "Voters are looking for people who can deliver results and that's what Governor Hochul has done."