Election 2026: Democrats sweep in Lewiston

Cota elected mayor, Coppins & Collesano to Village Board

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Change is coming to the Village of Lewiston.

On Tuesday, residents chose Democrat candidate Dan Cota to be the municipality’s next mayor. He defeated incumbent Republican officeholder Anne Welch by a vote of 366-294.

Joining Cota will be fellow Democrats Tina Coppins – elected to her second term – and Leandra Collesano, who is a first-time elected official.

Coppins was the top vote-getter with 433; followed by Collesano, who had 378. Deputy Mayor Vic Eydt, a four-term board member, finished third with 293 votes. First-time candidate Rob Nichols finished with 198 votes.

Come July, the traditionally GOP-leaning Village Board will have a Democrat majority.

Though that’s significant, the three newly elected leaders said political party wasn’t what determined the results.

“I think that building a campaign around listening really resonated with everybody here, and people want to be heard – and now they will be,” Cota said.

Coppins said, “I really don't think it's Democrat/Republican; I think it's what the people want. It's not a party. We're a small village – it doesn't matter. It's what is needed and what we want to do.”

Collesano said, “I totally agree. It wasn't about the party; it was about time for change here in the village, and we're representing that, and we will deliver it.”

The reorganizational meeting will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, July 6, at the Red Brick Municipal Building, 145 N. Fourth St.

“I think the biggest thing is getting the community more involved in every decision that we make; bringing them in early, bringing them in often, and letting them have real input into the decisions that we make,” Cota said.

Coppins said, “I think it's going to be bringing the community in by using video and streaming our meetings, so they can sit at their house and watch it. Right now, we have nobody show up – but we want people here; we want to move it to the gym!”

Collesano said, “We definitely campaigned on transparency, and it's been lacking up until today – and that will change once we're sworn in.”

Election officials reported 645 people voted in person, while 26 absentee ballots were accepted.

There was one write-in vote for mayor, Ed Lilly, who is running in next Tuesday’s Town of Lewiston primary election opposite Supervisor Steve Broderick.

Four years ago, when Welch bested challenger and former trustee Claudia Marasco (by a 52-point margin, 367-315), a total of 633 people voted in the Red Brick Municipal Building gymnasium. Fifty-four absentee ballots were submitted.

In 2018, there were 721 votes cast, with Welch besting former deputy mayor Bruce Sutherland by three votes.

The current results are unofficial until approved by the Niagara County Board of Elections.

Find out more about:

• Cota
• Coppins
• Collesano