The Monroe County Board of Elections began releasing preliminary absentee ballot counts today from last month's primary election.
Jeremy Cooney is leading with 53 percent of the vote in the primary contest to become Democratic candidate for the 56th State Senate District.
Hilda Enid Rosario Escher came in second with close to 24 percent, and Sherita Traywick came in third at 23 percent.
The 56th is currently represented by Republican Joe Robach, who is retiring. Cooney will face Republican Mike Barry in November.
Another key primary is the 137th Assembly District contest to replace the late Dave Gantt in Albany. The absentee ballots put community activist Demond Meeks in the lead with just over 42 percent of the vote. Meeks is also running on the Working Families Party line. County Legislator Ernest Flagler is second at 33 percent, and Ann Lewis ran third at just over 20 percent of the vote. There's no Republican candidate named so far.
And in the 135th Assembly District, Incumbent Harry Bronson has held off a challenge from Alex Yudelson, who got the Democratic Party's designation. Bronson won by 57 percent to 42 percent.
The absentee ballots have also settled the race to see which Democrat will run for Monroe County Clerk.
Incumbent Jamie Romeo won 56 to 43 percent over Jennifer Boute once the absentee ballots were counted. Boute was leading on primary night.