Grisanti Loss Surprise Of State Senate Races

There were a lot of close state Senate primaries on Tuesday night with favorites and incumbents fending off challengers, but one big upset was in Western New York where state Sen. Mark Grisanti was defeated in a Republican primary by his conservative challenger, Kevin Stocker.  

Stocker received 57.2% of the vote to Grisanti's 42.8%.  

Grisanti, a former Democrat-turned Republican, has faced multiple challenges from the right since he upset incumbent Democrat Antoine Thompson back in 2010. He was the last of four GOP senators who voted for same-sex marriage in 2011 who was still in office. Two of the other three were defeated in primaries in 2012 with the fourth choosing not to seek reelection.

In 2012, Grisanti held off a challenge from Stocker, an attorney from Kenmore, winning 60 percent of the vote in a campaign where his vote on same-sex marriage dominated the rhetoric. In this year's primary, that vote was not as much of an issue, but Grisanti faced heavy opposition from within his party for supporting Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature gun control legislation, known as the NY SAFE Act. 

Grisanti's loss now likely sets up a close race between Stocker and the Democratic primary winner Marc Panepinto. Democrats hold a 92,013 to 53,497 edge in enrollment in the district, and in past elections Grisanti's moderate stance on issues has been able to secure votes across the aisle. If Republicans lose this seat they will face a difficult path to winning the 32 seats necessary to control the state Senate.

Grisanti could appear on the Independence Party line in the general election. But, because Grisanti is an attorney the party could move him into a judgeship and award their ballot line to one of the other candidates in the race.