ROCHESTER, N.Y. — While several Monroe County Legislature races are extremely close, as it stands now, the Republican party will maintain its hotly-contested majority.

The final count: 16 seats went to the Republicans and 13 to the Democrats. 

Republicans are celebrating and declaring victory on Wednesday for maintaining the majority.

“We finished the game tonight retaining the legislature,” said Bernie Iacovangelo, Monroe County Republican Committee chair.

Spectrum News 1 spoke with two Republican candidates who came out on top and both say the number one issue they and their constituents are concerned about is public safety. 

“Public safety is at the forefront of the constituents' concerns right now," said Orlando Rivera, (R) 26th Legislative District elect. "Again, walking door to door, I was seeing and hearing a lot about public safety and traffic safety. So we want to have those conversations with the police.”

“I think public safety is huge," said Sean McCabe, (R ) 6th Legislative District elect. "I mean, that's my background, that's where I'm from. On public safety, I mean, I believe the Democrats had come out with some issues around Metro schools or a countywide school system. I think most, at least in Greece, we'd be against that. I don't think it's appropriate. I don’t think our residents will feel that it's appropriate. 

Two Democratic legislative winners also weighed in.

“My hope is to be effective," said Carolyn Delvecchio Hoffman, 25th Legislative District elect. "As an activist, I've seen that sometimes when activists are able to take these seats, they're able to be more effective. They're able to move policy more quickly when they show up and they're able to move things for individuals more quickly when they make a phone call.”

“And it was really just putting an end to what I felt was as a question of voters, the suppression of voters and, you know, again, when the needs of the community isn't met, it's time for change," said Mercedes Vazquez-Simmons, (D) 22nd Legislative District elect.

Republicans say keeping the majority means keeping the checks and balances. 

The Democratic Party says it's not ready to throw in the towel and will wait for the absentee ballots to be counted.