BUFFALO, N.Y. — Just days before petitions were due for congressional candidates, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee made a last minute push to try to place Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul in the race for New York's 27th district.

"They were trying to choose our candidate and push Nate McMurray out of this race," Erie County Democratic Committee Chairman Jeremy Zellner said.

Members of the party in Western New York did not appreciate the DCCC effort and Tuesday night, across the state, he said Democrats delivered a similar message.

"I think last night kind of showed that people from Washington shouldn't be choosing who's running throughout the country. People from the communities ought to be doing it," he said.

Zellner said upset victories in the 14th and 24th Congressional district signify the importance of grassroots efforts over outside money. Former Buffalo for Bernie organizer Chuck Hess agreed.

"I think people are realizing that we just need to go out there and really ask for the world and realize that there's a lot of people hurting out there and that message resonates with people all over the political spectrum," Hess said.

He said former Sanders campaign staffer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victory over powerful incumbent Joe Crowley was particularly encouraging for New York progressives.

"Going into that race, it was something where if she didn't win it was going to be a mental blow because it was just somebody that really represents that district very well," he said.

Although McMurray is running against a Republican incumbent, Zellner is hoping he can score a similar victory without much national support.

"I think he was happy to see the results last night based on what had happened in this district where they were trying to move on him and push him out of the race," he said.

Meanwhile, gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon was a strong supporter of Ocasio-Cortez in what should be a key district in Queens. However, Zellner, who supports the governor, questioned whether the congressional upsets translate to September's primary.

"There just doesn't seem to be a lot of energy here. I don't see a lot of people on the street petitioning for her right now. We don't see a lot of political activity happening, at least in our community," he said.