Democratic New York state Sen. Tim Kennedy wins seat in Congress in special election

Democratic state Sen. Timothy Kennedy on Tuesday won a special election for the New York congressional seat vacated by Democrat Brian Higgins.

Kennedy easily beat Republican Gary Dickson for the upstate New York seat, helped by a 2-to-1 Democratic registration advantage in the district, which includes Buffalo, Niagara Falls and several suburbs.

Kennedy has been in the state Senate since 2011. Describing Washington as "chaotic and dysfunctional," he said he said that in Congress, he'd focus on reproductive rights, immigration and stronger gun laws like those passed in New York after a 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket.