Was it the night of the incumbent? In some ways, yes. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz easily won re-election by a 2-to-1 margin over Republican challenger Ray Walter.
"No surprises here at all but certainly the margin here was nothing short of huge," notes Buffalo News Political Reporter Bob McCarthy speaking about the Poloncarz-Walter race. "The key thing is the word 'mandate' that he's (Poloncarz) claiming."
Walter stepped up to run after two other Republicans declined. McCarthy says, "He's certainly distinguished himself during the campaign. He was a fine candidate for all of the handicaps that he was facing in this. What lies down the road? Certainly the admiration of the county and state Republican organizations and who knows what taking one for the team might mean for him further down the road."
McCarthy also discussed several other contests including races in the Erie County Legislature and town races in the interview posted above with WBFO's Jay Moran.