Submitted Photo Officers of the county Democrats, from left, are Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist, Christina Cardinale, Kevin O’Connell, Susan Bigler and Marcia Westling Johnson need to reconnect with past strengths.

Glimmers of hope begin to appear almost minutes after the polling locations close across Chautauqua County for the Democratic party. Once the early voting results are posted, the contests – for local and statewide offices – usually start close.

Come Election Day, however, red rules. As the results churn through the evening from the Board of Elections for its 101 county districts, the suspense is lost after only 10% report. After that, it is a runaway.

Shortly before the November vote, Democrats here reorganized. After years of party leadership through Norman Green, Marcia Westling Johnson became the new chair.

“Our country – and our county – is at a crossroads. Our Democratic Party must continue to pull together to elect good Democratic candidates and re-elect good Democratic officials,” she said in a news release last month. “We are committed to rebuilding our party in Chautauqua County as we continue supporting people and programs to strengthen and revitalize our county.

At our core, we support creating good paying jobs for our residents, ensuring supportive services for our young and old and those in need, protecting the beauty and natural resources for all to enjoy, and work to strengthen and uphold our democracy while protecting constitutional rights for all citizens.”

To the party’s credit, it has run capable candidates. But the biggest problem the left faces locally is not who they are endorsing. It is the establishment from the right and appreciation residents here have gained for the current representatives.

State Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Goodell have become powerhouses. Both are responsive, in tune with their constituency and, just as importantly, they show up when called upon.

There’s also a loyalty factor that surfaced for Sheriff James Quattrone and continued for those on Row B across the Southern Tier. No major race was close — except one: the bond act for the environment that was narrowly defeated here, but overwhelmingly approved across the state.

What happened in this region was exactly the game plan of Lee Zeldin, Republican candidate for governor. Pick up as many votes as you can in those strong red counties. The bigger the margin, the better. Zeldin’s philosophy was simple: A Republican landslide upstate could possibly counter the blue New York City vote.

His tactics nearly pulled off what many thought was impossible in August when Zeldin was behind by double-digits to incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul in a number of polls. This is where a strategy from the Democrats has to come from here at home.

There appears to be a major disconnect for the party with its previous supporters. Six years ago, Democrats carried the cities and the local unions that represented not only the teachers, but those who work in the municipalities.

That support, however, has evaporated. For whatever reason, those traditional backers — at least those here — can no longer be counted on to vote on Row A. Somehow, relationships have to be rebuilt.

That is the largest challenge for both new county chair Westling Johnson and current Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist — reconnecting with those who once supported the party and finding out why that segment has moved away.

Candidate selection is easy to criticize. But right now, it is much more than that.

Local Democrats have to regain a lost base that was once there and could be counted on. Until the party can get those traditional voters back — and on their side, they will be fighting a losing battle for years to come.

This region is better when there are some checks and balances in local government. At this time, Republicans are dominating in the county – and showing little urgency to turn around years of population losses while failing to offer a vision for this area’s future.

Another reality is the major party in control is following the lead of its constituency. They are savoring the status quo.

John D’Agostino is the editor of the OBSERVER, The Post-Journal and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-366-3000, ext. 253.