New York held primary elections yesterday and below is a summary of the races most relevant to our region. In 2027, eight seats across our catchment are guaranteed to see new representation, regardless of what happens in November, because the incumbent is either retiring or running for different office. 

 

Open Seats in IHA Region:

• NY-21 (U.S. House): Rep. Elise Stefanik is not seeking reelection
• NY Senate 51: Sen. Peter Oberacker ran for NY-19 republican primary seat and won
• NY Assembly 102: Assemblymember Christopher Tague ran for Senate 51 republican primary seat and won
• NY Assembly 117: Assemblymember Kenneth Blankenbush is retiring
• NY Assembly 118: Assemblymember Robert Smullen was running for NY-21 but lost to republican challenger in primary
• NY Assembly 119: Assemblymember Buttenschon is retiring
• NY Assembly 120: Assemblymember William Barclay is retiring
• NY Assembly 123: Assemblymember Donna Lupardo is retiring

Primary results for each of these races and others are below:

 

U.S. House

• NY-21 (open seat)
  • Democratic primary: Blake Gendebien defeated Stuart Amoriell
  • Republican primary: Anthony Constantino defeated Assemblymember Robert Smullen
    • Smullen had already secured the Conservative Party nomination prior to the primary and could remain on the November ballot, which may affect general election dynamics in this race.
• NY-19 (incumbent Rep. Josh Riley)
  • Republican primary: State Sen. Peter Oberacker defeated Alexander Portelli
• NY-24 (incumbent Rep. Claudia Tenney)
  • Democratic primary: Alissa Ellman defeated Diana Kastenbaum. 

State Senate

• Senate District 44 (incumbent James Tedisco)
  • Democratic primary: Sarah Rogerson defeated Patrick Nelson. Rogerson will face Tedisco in November.
• Senate District 51 (open seat)
  • Republican primary: Assemblymember Christopher Tague defeated Terry Bernardo
  • Democrat Michele Frazier ran unopposed and advances to the general election

State Assembly

• Assembly District 102 (open seat)
  • Democratic primary: Janet Tweed defeated Thomas Boomhower and Mary Finneran
  • Republican Marc Molinaro ran unopposed and advances to the general election.
• Assembly District 106 (incumbent Didi Barrett)
  • Democratic primary: Incumbent Didi Barrett defeated Samuel Hodge
• Assembly District 117 (open seat)
  • The Republican primaries were canceled. Dennis Gordon (D) and Tammie Nabywaniec (R) advanced unopposed.
• Assembly District 118 (open seat)
  • Republican primary: Heather Scribner defeated Charles Potter and Chanda King
• Assembly District 119 (open seat)
  • Democratic primary: Jonathan Lipe defeated Joseph Betar
  • Republican primary: Michael Gentile defeated Daniel Fusco
• Assembly District 120 (open seat)
  • Democratic primary: Timothy Allers leads Jim Cannon (not yet called)
• Assembly District 123 (open seat)
  • Democratic primary: Dan Norton defeated Dan Livingston
• Assembly District 129 (incumbent Bill Magnarelli)
  • Democratic primary: Maurice "Mo" Brown holds a slim lead over 14-term incumbent Bill Magnarelli, 50.57% to 49.34%, a margin of 82 votes out of more than 6,500 cast. Late-arriving absentee ballots will be counted next week. Not yet called.

There will also be some major leadership changes in the legislature come January. Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes (D-Buffalo) announced in April that she will not seek reelection for health reasons, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R) stepped down from leadership and is not seeking reelection and Assemblymember Ed Ra took his place, and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Mike Gianaris (D) is not seeking reelection.

 

Results statewide in primaries saw more progressive candidates defeat establishment-aligned incumbents. This may shift the balance of priorities in the Legislature and Congress next session. We will continue to track general election developments in these districts.

 

As always, please reach out to a member of IHA's advocacy team with any questions:

• Lauren Ford, Vice President, Government Relations and Strategy, lford@iroquois.org, 518-935-7171
• Grace Rust, Associate Director, Government Relations and Member Engagement, grust@iroquois.org, 518-345-7435