BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie County Democrats and Republicans both had the opportunity to claim victory Wednesday morning.

"We held all of our seats and flipped a few of theirs," County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. "They held their seats but really weren't able to flip any Democrats so I kind of like where we are today."

It wasn't an election year for Poloncarz, but he came away as one of the biggest winners regardless. After four years with a Republican County Legislature, Democrats wrestled away the majority.

"I feel that I can accomplish a lot now with a legislature who's going to be much more conducive to at least listening to me rather than just rejecting outright the proposals that I send over," he said.

Republican analyst Vic Martucci said candidates were helped by higher than expected turnout for an off-year election.

"There's 134,000 more Democrats than Republicans in Erie County so low turnout elections typically favor the Republicans in Erie County," he said.

Regardless, Republican-endorsed candidates appear to have maintained county comptroller, clerk and sheriff.

"Those three county-wide races were a lot closer than most people thought they would be," Martucci said.

Poloncarz believed voters were motivated to the polls this year by the election of Donald Trump and the atmosphere in Washington since.

"There was engagement on both sides and I do not see that changing for 2018," he said.

Martucci agreed and said Republicans will have to account for the ‘Trump Effect’ for the mid-terms if they want to avoid a down election.

"The challenge for the Republicans is going to be to match the intensity of the Democrat turnout," he said.

Even so, both believe congressional challengers to both Democrat Brian Higgins and Republican Chris Collins will enter as heavy underdogs.

"A lot of people were saying we need to be focusing on the 2018 races three or four months ago. We were focused on 2017," Poloncarz said. "2017 is over with now. Now, as a political party, we can start thinking about the future."