Sean Ryan, April Baskin set to win state senate seats
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Over 99% of the votes are in and New York state leaders Sean Ryan and April Baskin are set to be elected to state senate.
Ryan is poised to be reelected to represent the 61st district comprised of Grand Island, Amherst, Tonawanda, Kenmore and part of Buffalo. Ryan was first elected to the state senate in 2020 and served the New York State Assembly for nine years prior.
He defeated Republican Christine Czarnik with 61.6% of the vote.
Ryan grew up in Lackawanna and graduated from SUNY College at Fredonia. His priorities include the economy, working families, housing and equality for all, according to his website.
During his time in office, he has sponsored numerous bills to support New York schools, renters, and the working-class. Ryan championed clean air, water and environmental protection as an assemblyman, as well as protecting taxpayer dollars.
Erie County Legislature Chair April Baskin will represent the 63rd district, encompassing parts of Buffalo, Cheektowaga and Lackawanna. She succeeds now-Congressman Tim Kennedy. She was born and raised in Buffalo and attended Buffalo State University before running for the Erie County Legislature in 2017. She has served as Legislature Chair since 2019.
Baskin cites housing, the economy, health services, public safety and public art as her top concerns.
She has secured over $4 million for affordable housing, as well as pharmacies and primary care offices in Buffalo. Other accomplishments of hers include a conversion therapy ban, body cameras for Erie County sheriffs and the "percent for public art" law which, allocates 1 percent of building construction project costs in Erie County for public art at the site.
Baskin beat out Republican John Moretti Jr. with 65.92%
Patrick Gallivan, Robert Ortt and George Borrello also all won spots on the state senate. They ran unopposed in the 60th, the 62nd and the 57th districts, respectively.
Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.