AUBURN — Shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday, Steve Buschman was one of the first people to vote on Election Day at Auburn Fire Station One.Â
After casting his ballot, he said, "It won't be a shutout."Â
Seventeen hours later, Buschman learned that 20,651 other voters believed he was the best candidate for Cayuga County Family Court judge.Â
The longtime Auburn attorney, who ran on the Republican and Conservative lines, defeated Democratic candidate Kristin Garland for the newly created position. Buschman's margin of victory was nearly 7,000 votes, 20,652 to 13,667.Â
Steve Buschman delivers his victory speech after winning the race for Cayuga County Family Court judge Tuesday.Â
In his victory speech at the Hilton Garden Inn, where the Cayuga County Republicans held an election night party, Buschman thanked the local GOP and Conservative parties for supporting his candidacy. He also thanked his family for their support.Â
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"We won by going door to door throughout all this county," Buschman said. "We didn't rely on any newfangled tech or anything else. We went out and hit the doors of this community and they responded in kind."Â
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation in July to create the family court judgeship. The judicial seat is needed to address a backlog of more than 900 pending family court cases.Â
Shortly after the bill was signed, Garland announced her candidacy and was endorsed by the Cayuga County Democratic Committee. An associate Auburn City Court judge who has practiced family law for 11 years, she made history as the first woman to run for county judge.Â
Cayuga County Conservatives and Republicans united behind Buschman, a senior partner at the WHMB P.C. law firm in Auburn. His experience includes 26 years practicing in family court.Â
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Both candidates sought to make their case for why they were the most experienced person for the job. Buschman also highlighted his roots in Auburn. Many of his family members supported his campaign by knocking on doors and writing letters to the editor.Â
This was Buschman's second run for a judgeship. In 2018, he narrowly lost the race for Auburn City Court judge.Â
For this election, Buschman had an experienced campaign manager: Sue Dwyer, the former county clerk who remains active in the local Republican Party. He called Dwyer "a powerhouse."Â
Buschman will be sworn in as family court judge in January. He will serve a 10-year term.Â
"Thanks to all the voters and everybody that has accepted me and allowed for the most qualified person to do a job that's so important in this county," he said.Â
Gallery: Election Day 2024, watch parties in Cayuga County
Cayuga County Family Court judge candidate Steven Buschman votes at the Auburn Public Safety Building. He was joined by Roberta Williams, his mentor and senior partner of WHMB P.C., where Buschman is also a senior partner.
Ian Phillips, a Democrat challenging Republican Assemblyman John Lemondes in the 126th Assembly District, delivers Camerons doughnuts to poll workers at Auburn Alliance Church.Â
Kristin Garland, an associate Auburn City Court judge who is running for Cayuga County Family Court judge, delivers breakfast pizza to the poll workers at Fingerlakes Mall in Aurelius.
Keith Batman, Democratic elections commissioner in Cayuga County, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV there was a complaint about electioneering at Auburn Alliance Church. Democratic candidates have signs near the driveway to the church, which is one of the citywide polling locations. There was a measurement and the signs are more than 100 feet away from the polling place. Electioneering is prohibited within 100 feet of a polling place.
State Sen. Rachel May in Auburn on Tuesday.
People line up to vote Tuesday at Sacred Heart Church in Owasco.
People line up to vote Tuesday at Sacred Heart Church in Owasco.
Residents make their selections at Sacred Heart Church in Owasco on Election Day.
Moravia High School seniors Jadon Todd, right, and Lilian Miller check in Sharon Hilliard to vote at the Moravia town offices on Election Day in Cayuga County.
Sharon Hilliard makes selections before placing her ballot at the Moravia town offices on Election Day in Cayuga County.
Poll watcher Rick Galbato in Moravia on Tuesday.
Voting in Moravia on Tuesday.
Poll watchers Rick Galbato, standing left, and Cayuga County Republican Chairman Nate VeVone visit the Moravia polling center on Tuesday.
Sharon Hilliard casts her ballot in Moravia on Tuesday.
Alexis Randall celebrates with her children — from left, Lincoln, Gabrielle and Luca Giannone — after placing her ballot in Union Springs on Election Day in Cayuga County.
Residents place their ballots in Union Springs on Election Day in Cayuga County.
Residents gather at Trinity United Church of Christ in Union Springs for an election night dinner.
Election Day in the town of Ledyard in Cayuga County.
Voting in Genoa on Tuesday.Â
Poll workers check people in to vote at the firehouse on Seminary Street in Auburn on Election Day in Cayuga County.
Voters wait in line Tuesday evening at Casey Park in Auburn.
Voters leave their polling place on Election Day in Cayuga County.
Assemblyman John Lemondes, left, speaks with Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck at the Cayuga County Republicans' election night party Tuesday.Â
Auburn City Councilor Terry Cuddy, left, and City Clerk Chuck Mason watch election coverage while waiting for the local Democratic watch party to begin at Prison City Brewing.
Assembly candidate Ian Phillips attends the Cayuga County Democratic Committee election night watch party at Prison City Brewing in Auburn.
Steven Buschman hugs supporters after learning he won the newly created Cayuga County Family Court judge seat at the Republican election night watch party Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn.
Steve Buschman, left, stands with Cayuga County Republican Chairman Nate VeVone at the GOP election night party at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn Tuesday. Buschman was elected Cayuga County Family Court judge, defeating Democrat Kristin Garland.Â
Kristin Garland loses her race for Cayuga County Family Court judge to Steve Buschman.
Ian Phillips is defeated by Assemblyman John Lemondes in the 126th Assembly District race.
Steve Buschman delivers his victory speech after winning the race for Cayuga County Family Court judge Tuesday.Â
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.
Robert Harding
Online producer/politics reporter
