"Money was not the issue here," said longtime Republican Strategist Carl Calabrese after Tuesday's stunning primary upset in the 61st State Senate District. Assemblyman Jon Rivera defeated incumbent State Senator Jeremy Zellner, who is also chair of the Erie County Democratic Party.
Calabrese called it a political stunner.
"For the Democrat Chairman to get beat in a race that depends on an organization getting out the vote, it is a real stinging loss and embarrassment. It's fair to say that the Rivera organization, including labor, simply outperformed Zellner's organization. That's the surprise for me," said Calabrese.
Analyst Ken Kruly of Politics and Stuff told WBEN that labor was the difference in the race.
"It was a very hard fought campaign. Zellner had a bunch of union endorsements. But Rivera had a whole lot more, along with money and manpower."
Kruly's other takeaway is this.
"I think the twenty percent of Democrats who voted said that they would rather not have a party leader in elective office."
What happens next with Zellner?
"The Chairman post comes up again in September. The chair is elected by members of the county committee. I would think he still has substantial support within the party. But things have to play out," added Kruly.
There is no Republican opponent for for Rivera. He is all but assured victory in November.
