Democrat Tim Kennedy wins special election to replace Brian Higgins in New York: AP

The Associated Press called a New York special election for Democrat Tim Kennedy on Tuesday night.  He defeated a Republican challenger and officially replaced fellow Democrat Brian Higgins in his House seat.

Higgins stepped down from Congress in February, citing frustration with the slow pace of Washington D.C. in getting help for his district in Buffalo. Higgins said he would pursue other options to help build up his neighborhood.

Kennedy's victory is not surprising, since Higgins has won the seat consistently since 2004, but he will still need to run for a full two year term in November. He defeated Republican West Seneca Supervisor Gary Dickson to represent the state's 26th Congressional district. Democrats now have 213 seats in the House, compared to 217 for Republicans. Five seats are still empty.

“This race is about the future of our country, and I believe every race at the congressional level across America this November is going to be the same,” Kennedy told Politico in a recent interview. “This is a prelude to what we should expect to see in November.”

The former state senator is facing a primary challenge from former Grand Island town supervisor Nate McMurray, but Kennedy's campaign said it believes McMurray will be disqualified over problems with signatures on his petition to run. If Kennedy wins the primary in June, newly redrawn congressional maps have placed the district even more solidly in his favor for November.

“I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues to deliver for the people of this country and making sure that the House of Representatives is more reflective of the people,” Kennedy told NBC News of his campaign for a full term. “And I believe going into November, we have the moral high ground here to take back the House as Democrats. I believe the people of this country are sick and tired of seeing the dysfunction in the chaos that’s reigning under MAGA Republican control in the House.”