As Democrats expanded their voter registration advantage in Monroe County on Tuesday, many of the party’s candidates claimed victory or took the lead in contested races.

The 2024 elections reinforced trends seen last November, when Monroe County Democrats captured a majority in the county Legislature for the first time in 30 years and Monroe County Executive Adam Bello became the first Democrat re-elected to the position.

There are 206,360 registered Democrats in the district, well ahead of the 127,191 registered Republicans. In fact, unaffiliated voters are the second largest voting group in the county, at 155,581.

Monroe County Clerk Jamie Romeo, Democrat maintained his positiongets 57 percent of the votes. Democrat Michael Ansaldi beats Republican Joseph DiNolfo by 5 percentage points Race for Monroe County Court Judgebased on unofficial election night totals.

Monroe County votes in state and federal elections

Monroe County voters also favored federal Democratic incumbents U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Joseph Morelle. In state races, Monroe County voters turned out in favor of Democratic state senators Samra Brouk and Jeremy Cooney, as well as Republican incumbents Pamela Helming and Robert Ortt.

In the night’s headline race, Vice President Kamala Harris received 205,120 votes to former President Donald Trump’s 141,763 in unofficial results. President Joe Biden received 225,746 in 2020, while Trump received 145,661.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, Monroe County has consistently voted for the Democratic presidential candidate. The closest rivalry occurred in 2004; John Kerry bested then-President George W. Bush by less than 10,000 votes. The widest margin was in 2020, when voters favored Joe Biden by 80,000 votes.

More: 2024 Monroe County Election Results

Recommendation 1 transitions

Proposition 1, Equal Rights Amendment, passed easily at the state level but also enjoyed local support. Monroe County voted in favor of the amendment with 193,201 votes to 140,844 votes against.

Following the passage of Proposition 1, reactions began pouring in at the Monroe County Democratic watch party held at the Hyatt in downtown Rochester.

“This is the equal rights movement and it shouldn’t be this controversial,” said Amy Hughes, 30.

Benjamin Remel, 18, a freshman at the University of Rochester, said he voted for Proposition 1. “It’s important to support equal rights,” he said. “I think it’s great that Proposition 1 was passed. It’s important to show that this is something we need to implement.”

Jeremy Cooney, D-Rochester, who defeated his Republican opponent to secure another two-year term representing the 56th District in the state Senate, expressed his pleasure in supporting Proposition 1 with his vote in the Senate.

“This is a huge relief to many New Yorkers who are concerned about their rights,” Cooney said. “No matter what happens in the White House or the Supreme Court, it is critical that we support people in New York, whether they are transgender people or those seeking reproductive health care.”

Greece’s offer was rejected

In Greece Town, a proposal that would have changed the appointment process for town board or supervisor positions was rejected.

Opponents claimed the change was a power grab by Supervisor Bill Reilich, a claim he denied. Instead, he said, the change would begin the process of filling vacancies.

Under the proposal, any resident could be considered for a vacant position and the town board would decide.

Now political parties choose candidates for the opening ceremony. Republicans currently control the board and the election.

“If this proposal passes, it would allow the town board to consider not just the two party picks, but also anyone in town who is qualified, meaning they live in the appropriate ward or live in town for the race of supervisors,” Reilich told WROC-TV (Channel 8). he said in an interview:

— Democrat and Chronicle reporters Justice Marbury, Kerria Weaver and Gary Craig contributed to this report.

— Steve Howe covers weather, climate and the Great Lakes for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered numerous issues in New York and Utah over the years, including public safety, local government, national policy and economic development.

This article first appeared in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Monroe County election 2024: What do the results show?