Rochester is hardly right leaning. Republicans don't even bother running a candidate for mayor. The congressional District that encompasses it and includes many surrounding more conservative areas went 59-39 to democrats in the last election. Certainly some of the surrounding areas tilt conservative but not the city itself. The suburbs are kind of a case by case mix. There's 200,00 registered democrats in Monroe County vs 130,000 registered Republicans. I know party isn't the same as liberal or conservative, but calling Rochester right leaning is a huge stretch. Syracuse too.