Who is running for Erie County Clerk in 2026?

Erie County Clerk

Michael P. Kearns, known as Mickey, has been Erie County Clerk since he was sworn in on December 5, 2017³⁵. He served on the Buffalo Common Council for the South District from 2006 to 2012 and in the New York State Assembly from 2012 to 2017, where he sat as a Democrat²³⁵. In 2026 he appears on the Republican and Conservative lines against Democrat Steven G. Meyer¹².

• Erie County Clerk, sworn in December 5, 2017; re-elected in 2018 and 2022²³
• New York State Assembly, 2012 to December 2017 (first elected in a March 2012 special election for the then 145th District; represented the 142nd District from 2013)²³⁵
• Buffalo Common Council, South District, 2006 to 2012³⁵
• Earlier work as a City of Buffalo sanitation worker and as vice president of the family firm Kearns and Associates⁴
• Associate's degree in paralegal studies, Erie Community College; Bachelor of Arts in political science, Canisius College³
• Won a November 2017 special election for County Clerk on the Republican, Conservative, Independence and Reform lines and was sworn in December 5, 2017³⁵; re-elected in 2018 with 50.6 percent and in 2022 with 54.4 percent². In 2026 he advanced without a primary on the Republican and Conservative lines¹².

Trustee, Village of Williamsville

Steven G. Meyer is an elected trustee of the Village of Williamsville, with a term that runs to June 2029, and runs a consulting practice that works with startups and organizations on strategy and operations⁵⁶. He is a Georgetown University graduate⁵. He is on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines for Erie County Clerk against the incumbent, Michael P. Kearns, who is on the Republican and Conservative lines¹².

• Trustee, Village of Williamsville, elected; current term ends June 2029⁶
• Runs a consulting practice for startups and organizations on strategy, operations and data-driven decision-making, and founded a small business developing a consumer family health product⁵
• Bachelor's degree, Georgetown University⁵
• Nominated for the November 3, 2026 general election on the Democratic and Working Families lines; the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary was canceled and he advanced without appearing on a primary ballot¹².