Buffalo, N.Y.-- Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathleen Hochul has lost her bid for re-election in the Republican-leaning New York district she won last year in a special election.
Hochul was defeated Tuesday by Republican Chris Collins, a former Erie County executive.
Collins frequently tried to link Hochul to President Barack Obama's administration, as well as to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Hochul, meanwhile, had campaigned as an independent voice in Washington who often voted against the administration.
The race was a top draw for outside money in New York. A poll showed a dead heat in its final weeks.
The sprawling 27th Congressional District stretches across eight western New York counties and the suburban and rural towns between Buffalo and Rochester.
On Wednesday around 12:45 a.m. Collins delivered a victory speech to the Erie County GOP.
"I am humbled by this win," Collins said. "I can promise all the constituents in the 27th District, I'm going to work for more jobs in America, less spending in Washington and I will work to make sure we're energy independent and I will work for the future of our children."
Collins told reporters that in two years he will work to better know his constituents in the eastern part of his district. He says earlier in the campaign there was a real concern on how he would fare in the election in the Rochester area.
"When I looked at the Rochester media market, we were concerned," he said. "They don't know who I am. There was a very nasty Buffalo China commercial. [The people in Rochester] didn't know if that was true or not. Now, we're going to spend a lot of time making sure [the Rochester area] knows that we are going to work very hard for everyone out there. It was very gratifying to see our win in Ontario and Monroe Counties."
