It also brought large local spending from some campaigns.

Overall, campaigns putting more money into the game ended up becoming the victor in their respected races.

Financial disclosure statements were examined to see how much each candidate spent overall and what was expended locally. Candidates spent money for TV and Facebook advertisements as well as mailers, signs and charity events, among other things.

The 23rd Congressional District race between U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, and Democratic challenger John Plumb led the way in the most money spent. Close to $1 million were spent locally between the campaigns, according to financial disclosure statements from 2015-16.

Rep. Tom Reed

Plumb’s campaign spent more within the county, around $90,000, as they were headquartered in Jamestown. Reed’s campaign spent around $16,000 locally between rent for their Lakewood headquarters, catering and payroll.

From the time they announced their candidacy to the Nov. 8 election, the campaigns together spent over $4.5 million districtwide. Reed spent just over $3 million while Plumb spent around $1.6 million. The Republican incumbent won the race over Plumb to secure another term in the House.

Financial disclosure statements show no funds were spent locally in the Senate race between Democrat Charles Schumer and Republican Wendy Long. But overall, Schumer’s campaign outspent Long’s campaign by a large margin throughout the election season, $12.4 million to $652,000 respectively.

The race for New York State Senate’s 57th District saw large spending from state Sen. Cathy Young’s campaign and little dollars put forth by challenger Lee Hyson’s campaign. Financial disclosure statements from January to November show Young’s campaign funneled around $7,000 into Chautauqua County while Hyson’s campaign spent a little over $600. Young beat Hyson in the election to retain her seat in the Senate. Overall, Young’s campaign spent just over $344,000 districtwide from January to November while Hyson’s campaign spent $4,425.

Republican Assemblyman Andy Goodell’s campaign spent four times more than Democrat Jason Perdue’s campaign. Goodell, R-Jamestown spent around $16,200 in Chautauqua County while Perdue spent a little over $4,000. Goodell’s campaign made a $4,000 contribution to the New York State Republican Assembly Campaign Committee to bring total spending to around $20,000. The majority of spending by Perdue’s campaign stayed with local businesses and companies. Goodell ended up beating Perdue in the election.

One of the more hotly-contested races in Chautauqua County was between Acting District Attorney Patrick Swanson and Jason Schmidt, Fredonia-based attorney, for lead prosecutor. Overall, Swanson’s campaign spent around $47,900 while Schmidt’s campaign spent around $24,500.

Schmidt’s campaign spent over $6,000 on TV ads and over $12,000 on signs. Swanson’s campaign spent around $3,000 for golf charity events and around $6,500 for TV ads. Swanson beat Schmidt to move from an interim role to a permanent position as district attorney.

The campaign for newly-elected Family Court Judge Michael Sullivan spent the most in the race. Financial data shows Sullivan’s campaign spending over $19,000, and $17,512 spent local, and Democrat Sally Jaroszynski’s campaign spending around $11,200, and just over $2,189 spent locally. Jaroszynski’s campaign spent over $7,000 in TV ads while Sullivan’s campaign put around $700 in TV ads. Sullivan went on to win the race against Jaroszynski.