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
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
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.
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]
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