In a surprise move, Amherst businessman Dan Gagliardo said he will not run in November's general election for the 61st State Senate seat, WBEN has learned exclusively.
Gagliardo made his decision almost one month to the day that he lost a special election for the State Senate seat that was won by Erie County Democratic Party chairman Jeremy Zellner.
"I just not sure we had the right apparatus behind us," said Gagliardo, who was running on the Republican ticket.
With Gagliardo out, the Republican Party is now looking for a new candidate.
Unless a GOP candidate is found, it means the winner of the June Democratic Party primary pitting Zellner against Assemblyman Jon Rivera would have an almost uncontested road to the November general election in what is already a Democratic-heavy district.
If he had run, it would have been the third election in less than 18 months for Gagliardo.
Gagliardo won the June 2025 GOP primary for the Amherst supervisor's seat but lost the November general election to Shawn Lavin.
Lavin garnered 53%, or 16,383 votes to Gagliardo's 47%, or 14,509 votes.
In the Feb. 3 special election to fill the seat vacated by now-Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan, Zellner gained 60%, or 18,752 votes while Gagliardo had 40% or 12,591 votes.
"Going into the race, everyone was telling me I was only going to get 25% of the vote and I got 40%," Gaglairdo said. "If I had more time, I think more people would have responded to my message."
Gagliardo said he is undecided about his political future but hasn't ruled out another run.
"I still have good message that need to get out," Gagliardo said.
The 61st District includes portions of North Buffalo along with all of Grand Island, Amherst, Town of Tonawanda, City of Tonawanda and the Villages of Kenmore and Williamsville.