BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Erie County Legislature Chairperson April Baskin has been nominated by the Erie County Democratic Committee for the 63rd New York State Senate seat, the organization announced on Thursday night.
This now clears the way for Baskin to succeed Tim Kennedy, who is vacating his seat to run for the seat to fill New York’s 26th Congressional seat, which was vacated by Brian Higgins earlier this month.
“Tonight will forever etched in my heart which is overflowing with gratitude. This support will translate into our unified victory,” Baskin said. “You are going to send a proud Buffalonian with grit and determination to the New York State Senate.”
Baskin was elected to represent District 2 of the Erie County Legislature in 2017 and was later elected to serve as chairperson in 2019. She has been re-elected each year since then. Her run as chairperson is one of the longest in the county’s history. District 2 represents much of North Buffalo.
“I am a woman from Buffalo who in 2017 decided I wanted to see changes in my community so I ran for public office,” Baskin said. “I had a goal of creating systems that would improve the lives of my neighbors.”