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The 2019 Erie County, New York Executive election took place on November 3, 2019, to select the County Executive of Erie County, New York. Incumbent Democratic County Executive Mark Poloncarz ran for re-election to a third term.[1] He was challenged by County Legislator Lynne Dixon, a member of the Independence Party who caucused won the Republican nomination.[2]
Dixon won a contested primary for the Independence Party's nomination, and received the nomination of the Conservative Party, as well as the Serve America Movement, which was formed to support former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner's 2018 third-party campaign for Governor.[3]
The race was viewed by observers as indicative of voter attitudes in advance of the 2020 United States presidential election[4] given that the area "is culturally, economically, and geographically closer to places like Ohio and Michigan than it is to New York City."[5]
Poloncarz ultimately defeated Dixon, winning 54 percent of the vote, becoming the first County Executive to win a third term since Dennis Gorski in 1995.[6]
Democratic nomination
[edit]Poloncarz announced that he would seek a second term,[1] and attorney Peter Reese, a supporter of Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign, announced that he would challenge him in the Democratic primary.[7] However, the Erie County Board of Elections concluded that Reese had not submitted enough valid petitions,[8] a decision that was affirmed by Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns. Though Reese appealed the ruling,[9] he ultimately did not appear on the ballot and Poloncarz won the nomination unopposed.
Republican nomination
[edit]Republicans sought to recruit County Clerk Chris Jacobs to run against Poloncarz, despite his refusal to run in 2007 and 2015.[10] Jacobs again declined to launch a campaign,[11] and Independence Party County Legislator Lynne Dixon ultimately announced that she would seek the nomination.[12] Dixon won the nomination unopposed.
Independence Party primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Lynne Dixon, County Legislator[13]
- Grace Christiansen, registered nurse at John R. Oishei Children's Hospital[13]
Dropped out
[edit]- Rachel Obenauer[14]
Campaign
[edit]Dixon, a member of the Independence Party, sought the party's nomination for County Executive. The Erie County Democratic Committee sought to recruit a candidate to challenge Dixon in the primary, forcing Dixon to spend time and campaign funds winning the nomination.[15] Activists connected to the party collected petitions for Rachel Obenauer, who subsequently declined the nomination,[16] enabling a vacancy committee to select a replacement candidate.[17]
Grace Christiansen, a nurse, was ultimately put forward as the replacement candidate,[13] and appeared on the ballot with Dixon.[18] Dixon won the primary in a landslide, receiving 84 percent of the vote.[15]
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | Lynne Dixon | 1,581 | 84.05% | |
| Independence | Grace Christiansen | 300 | 15.95% | |
| Total votes | 1,881 | 100.00% | ||
General election
[edit]Candidates
[edit]- Mark Poloncarz, Incumbent County Executive (Democratic, Working Families)[20]
- Lynne Dixon, County Legislator (Republican, Conservative, Independence, SAM)[20]
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Mark Poloncarz (D) |
Lynne Dixon (R) |
Other / Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| co/efficient[21] | June 11–12, 2019 | 1,325 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 42% | 40% | 18% |
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Mark Poloncarz | 105,177 | 49.49% | |
| Working Families | Mark Poloncarz | 8,925 | 4.20% | |
| Total | Mark Poloncarz (inc.) | 114,102 | 53.69% | |
| Republican | Lynne Dixon | 68,923 | 32.43% | |
| Conservative | Lynne Dixon | 23,613 | 11.11% | |
| Independence | Lynne Dixon | 5,661 | 2.66% | |
| SAM | Lynne Dixon | 218 | 0.10% | |
| Total | Lynne Dixon | 98,415 | 46.31% | |
| Total votes | 212,517 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Notes
[edit]- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
CV – certain voters
V – unclear
References
[edit]- ^ a b McCarthy, Robert J. (January 18, 2019). "Poloncarz girds for GOP attack as he eyes 3rd term". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. A1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (March 15, 2019). "Campaigns present contrasts early on in Poloncarz-Dixon race". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. A1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (October 4, 2019). "Dixon, other local candidates, gain minor party endorsement". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. C3. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ Vielkind, Jimmy (November 5, 2019). "Election Day in New York Brings Small Races, Larger Lessons". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
Both Democratic Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and Lynne Dixon, a GOP-supported county legislator, say their area is a good approximation for voter attitudes in the Rust Belt.
- ^ Mahoney, Bill (November 5, 2019). "A guide to the 2019 New York elections". Politico. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ Spina, Matthew; Tan, Sandra; Dewey, Caitlin (November 6, 2019). "Poloncarz scores solid win for 3rd term as county executive". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. A1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (March 13, 2019). "Reese to challenge Poloncarz in Democratic primary". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. B5. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (April 23, 2019). "Would-be challenger to Poloncarz may not qualify for party's ballot". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. B12. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (May 9, 2019). "Reese to appeal decision denying primary challenge to Poloncarz". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. C3. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (January 11, 2019). "GOP views Jacobs as best choice to topple Poloncarz". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. A1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (February 6, 2019). "Chris Jacobs won't challenge Poloncarz: Who does that leave?". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. C1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (February 27, 2019). "Dixon to challenge Poloncarz, vows tough fight in executive race". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. C1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c McCarthy, Robert J. (May 12, 2019). "Minor parties bristle as Dems' 'fusion' loopholes". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. C1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (April 13, 2019). "Dixon faces new Independence challenger as Dems choose Chimera, Casey and Eskew to run for seats in Legislature". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. B5. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ a b McCarthy, Bob (June 30, 2019). "Fusion gamesmanship plays out". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. H3. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ Whalen, Ryan (April 9, 2019). "Erie County Democrats Don't Agree with Fusion Voting, but Taking Advantage of It This Election Cycle". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (April 10, 2019). "Machinations may expose Dixon to primary after all". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. B5. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McDonough, Annie (June 12, 2019). "What you need to know about 2019's elections". City & State. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ "Independence Primary" (PDF). Erie County Board of Elections. 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ^ a b McAndrew, Mike (November 5, 2019). "Live coverage: Election Day 2019 in Erie and Niagara counties". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Robert J. (June 16, 2019). "Dixon's campaign does its own poll, and it shows a tight race". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. p. C3. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
- ^ "2019 General Canvass Book" (PDF). Erie County Board of Elections. 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.