Democrats' power shift

Besides low voter turnout, local political analysts are citing other reasons for local Republicans nearly losing their grip. Tuesday night Democrats picked up two Monroe County Legislature seats. Republicans now control 15.  Democrats have 14.

It was a victory for many Democrats during Tuesday night's local election.  But it wasn't enough to take over the County Legislature.  But that could soon change according to local political analyst, Curt Smith.

"The Democratic takeover in Monroe County may not be imminent, but it is I think inevitable. Many Republicans are moving out of New York, middle class white voters particularly to the South. They're not being replaced, the Republican voters are going, some Democrat voters are moving in," said Curt Smith, a local political analyst.

Smith says the impact won't be immediately felt until legislation is proposed, but he says one thing's for sure.

"This is not the kind of majority Maggie Brooks and Steve Minarik had hoped one short day ago. The Democrats came far closer I think than Republicans had hoped," said Smith.

Smith also points out, two issues that hurt both Republicans and Democrats equally were used by both parties to shift their agendas. The Republicans focused on a national issue.

"What helped them last night was frankly Eliot Spitzer and his insane policy of giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens. 72% according to some polls of Americans are opposed to this concoction," said Smith.

While Democrats were pushing a local one. Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks' FAIR plan, which takes a portion of sales tax revenues traditionally given to suburban schools to pay for growing Medicaid costs.

"The decision in many ways have backfired among many Republican voters, so I think this above all probably last night is the biggest reason Republicans almost lost the majority in the County of Monroe," said Smith.

Local winners from Tuesday night's election will start their new posts January 1st.