PACs' pick: Almost always incumbents

As upcoming elections draw near, the stakes are high and the incumbents seem to have the advantage with at least one group of campaign contributors.

Political Action Committees, organizations formed to donate directly to candidates, frequently contribute to returning candidates rather than their challengers, according to reports filed with the state Board of Elections.

In the four contested races for state Legislature seats representing parts of Cayuga County, incumbents received nearly $90,000 from PACs from July 1 through Oct. 5. Their challengers brought in a combined $250.