State Sen. George Borrello, R-57, carried 74% of the vote in Chautauqua County over Democratic challenger Frank Puglisi, who did not campaign. Borrello, who defeated newcomer Austin Morgan last year in a special election to fill the final year of former Sen. Catharine Young’s term, will now head back to the state’s upper chamber for a full two-year term of his own after capturing well over 28,700 votes to Puglisi, who received over 9,000 votes.

“I’m just grateful that the people in this 57th Senate district have given me the opportunity to continue to serve them. It’s very humbling and I’m just excited to get back to work,” Borrello said. “We have to continue fighting back against the special interests based out of New York City and come together to address the issues that are going to be facing the state in the coming days. We have a budget deficit that needs to be addressed and we need to balance public safety and rural broadband and how we are going to address this pandemic. We can’t continue this Draconian lockdown and strike a balance between our economic security. That has to be out focus going forward.”

Goodell, R-150, carried 72% of the vote over political newcomer Christina Cardinale to clinch his sixth term in the state Assembly. Goodell, who formerly served as the county’s executive, said he was pleased to see the Republican ticket perform so well on Election Night, despite a Democrat advantage in both Early Voting and absentee ballots and that it was bolstered by District Attorney candidate Jason Schmidt, who carried roughly 60% of the vote over Democratic incumbent Patrick Swanson.

“The surprising result of course is the very strong showing by Jason Schmidt,” Goodell said. “The early voting showed him just one or two percent behind Mr. Swanson, but as the live numbers come in. He’s polled way ahead. It looks like he’ll have a decisive win tonight. That means that all the Republicans are doing extaordinarily well.”

Andy Goodell

Goodell, who secured over 27,000 votes to Cardinale’s over 10,000 votes, said he was honored by the county residents’ faith in him once again.

“I’m very thankful that the residents of Chautauqua County have given me the opportunity to represent them in Albany,” he said. “I’m also very thankful for my colleagues in Albany who have selected me to be their floor leader. As floor leader, that means I review every single bill that comes to the floor and debate between probably a third-and-a-half of bills. It also gives me the opportunity to suggeset amedments whether we agree with their intent. Every year there are two or three more Democrat bills that were redrafted to reflect our suggestions. We meet their intent with language that would avoid some of the issues that we identify.

He added, “But, I’m thankful for the residents for giving me the opportunity to represent them in Albany. I’m thankful to my colleagues in the legislative chambers.”

Cardinale, in her first political race, expressed no regrets explaining that she fought her “absolute heart out.”

“I did everything I could and I wish my opponent all the absolute best,” she said. “I wish him and his family the best of his health. I have zero regrets. I’m glad that I did it. I’m thankful for all of the people i met. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

She said that she will remain committed to fighting for the people of the county.

“Without a doubt,” she said in regards to staying involved. “Just because I didn’t win it doesn’t mean that I’m going to stop fighting on the people’s behalf.”