Morelle coasts to victory in Democratic primary
Rochester Beacon (https://rochesterbeacon.com/2026/06/23/morelle-coasts-to-victory-in-democratic-primary/)
Rep. Joe Morelle handily defeated challenger Robin Wilt in Tuesday’s Democratic primary in the 25th Congressional District. It was her third attempt to become the party’s candidate for the seat.
Morelle received 63% of the vote. Wilt, who served on the Brighton town board from 2018 to 2025, had 30%. Sherita Traywick, a pastor and the founder of Young & Gifted Ministries, finished third with 6%.
Wilt challenged Morelle in 2018, the year he first won the congressional seat, and in 2020. This year, as before, Morelle’s financial edge was enormous. From January 2025 to June 3, 2026, his campaign spent $1.55 million compared with $38,221 spent by Wilt and $3,289 by Traywick.
In November, Morelle will square off against Republican Virgina McIntyre, a Monroe County legislator representing Gates and parts of Greece.
In the area’s other Democratic congressional primary, Alissa Ellman, a ve…