Nate McMurray's petitions fail; no June primary for NY-26

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - There will be no June primaries for NY-26 after former Grand Island Supervisor Nate McMurray's petitions were disqualified by New York's Board of Elections. That's according to Erie County Republican Elections Commissioner Ralph Mohr, who joined WBEN on Tuesday morning.

"The state Board of Elections determined that he did not have enough valid signatures to qualify for the primary election. So there will be no primary election, of my understanding," said Mohr during "A New Morning" with Brian Mazurowski and Susan Rose.

The news comes just over two weeks after The Buffalo News reported that State Sen. Tim Kennedy was suing to have petitions gathered by McMurray thrown out, saying they were faulty.

Without a primary, the stakes are now higher in Tuesday's special election, as the winner receives a free pass to November's race for the same seat.

"Tim Kennedy is going to be the Democratic candidate in November," Mohr said. "We have a Republican candidate, Tony Marecki, who is going to be a candidate in November as well without a primary."