Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren has won her battle to keep her seat against challengers James Sheppard and Rachel Barnhart.
The mayor easily won the Democratic Party nomination with 63 percent of the vote to 21 percent for Sheppard, the former police chief, and 15 percent for Barnhart, the former TV news anchor. That easy win virtually assures Warren’s re-election in November in the heavily-Democratic city. She’ll face Republican Tony Micciche, Green Party candidate Alex White and People’s Party candidate Lori Thomas.
Sheppard remains on the ballot as a candidate for the Independence and the Working Families parties, but said tonight he will not actively campaign.
There was an upset in the Democratic primary for five at-large Rochester City Council seats. Council Vice President Dana Miller didn’t make the top five and won’t be on the November Ballot. Incumbents Loretta Scott and Jackie Ortiz will be, along with Malik Evans, Mitch Gruber and Willie Lightfoot.
Six candidates were trying for three Democratic nominations to the city school board. Incumbents Van Henri White and Cynthia Elliot were renominated along with Natalie Sheppard.
Voter turnout in the city was slightly higher than four years ago in the last mayoral primary. The Monroe County Board of Elections says 25 percent of city Democrats voted, up from 23 percent in 2013.
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There were also primaries for town offices in Greece and in Henrietta.
William Murphy won the Republican Party nomination for Greece Town Board in Ward 2. He faces Democrat Rumella Cameron in November.
In Henrietta, Supervisor Jack Moore won the Reform Party line. He’s already on the ballot as the Republican, Conservative and Independence candidate.
John Howland and Kristine Demo-Vasquez became the Reform Party candidates for Henrietta Town Board.
In Ontario County, James Ritts defeated Kristina Karle by 55 to 45 percent for the Republican District Attorney Nomination.