Jeremy Zellner may win reelection as county party chair, but what happens next?

State Sen. Jeremy Zellner is likely on track to win an eighth term as chair of the Erie County Democratic Committee.

After losing his June state Senate primary to Assembly Member Jonathan Rivera by 10 points, Zellner retains strong support among Democratic committee members heading into the September reorganization meeting, even with some questioning whether the primary results open the door for a new county leader. Zellner is facing challenges from Amherst Council Member John Davis and Erie County Legislator Jeanne Vinal.

While observers do not see Zellner losing, the race plays out as speculation swirls that Zellner could receive a job from Gov. Kathy Hochul, possibly commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

“Absolutely, it’s his race to lose,” O’Donnell & Associates Managing Partner Jack O’Donnell said of Zellner. “I mean, the committee members have been decided. It’s not a public fight. I think one of the realities, and this has been true for a long time, is that the coalition that can choose the chairman is not always the same coalition that elects people or that wins primaries – or especially wins primaries.”

Some have suggested it is time for Zellner to go after his defeat to Rivera and the loss by the party-backed candidate for Rivera’s Assembly seat to Democratic Socialists of America candidate Adam Bojak. Opposition to Zellner had been mounting in other quarters over the party’s decision to nominate Zellner over Rivera in February’s special election to replace now-Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan in the state Senate.

O’Donnell said a desire for change after 14 years of Zellner as party chair, in addition to the primary results, were part of the conversations he had been hearing.

Zellner said he routinely stays in contact with committee members, which helps his reelection chances. He pointed to his record in office, including raising $15 million and an 89% success rate for party-endorsed candidates in primaries and a successful year last year. Zellner is backed by both Hochul and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. Zellner did not think this year’s primary will play a role.

“We had a historic off-season election, so I don’t think a primary that four out of five people stayed home really has anything to do with the leadership of this great county committee,” he said.

Davis disagreed.

“I think the ECDC endorsement, backed by a chairman who lost by 10 points, is pretty significant, and we can’t pretend that it didn’t happen,” he said. “I think the voters sent us a message, and as a leader, we have a responsibility to listen.”

Zellner has been endorsed by every other town elected official in Amherst and each of Vinal’s county legislative colleagues.

Vinal did not return requests for comment.

If Zellner is reelected and then takes the DMV job or another post with the Hochul administration, he would have to give up the county chair post. If that happens, then the county party’s executive committee would select his replacement. The executive committee is dominated by allies of Poloncarz and Zellner. Some are calling on Zellner to step down before September to allow the broader committee to pick the next chair.

While multiple sources have told City & State that Hochul would likely give Zellner a job in her administration after the November election, Zellner said no discussions had taken place. He indicated that he is focused on next year’s county executive race, which will be the first open race for the job in two decades. Poloncarz announced years ago that he will not seek a fifth term.

“My priority here is to get reelected for an eighth term as party leader and guide our party through the county executive process of next year because it’s a really important year, and that has been my goal all along,” Zellner said.