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Newly-Elected State Legislators

November 19th, 2018

In January, 17 new State Senators and 21 new Assemblymembers will take office. Some of the new members who will be representing Upstate communities include:

  • Democrat Rachel May in the 53rd Senate District in Central New York. May will replace incumbent David Valesky, whom she defeated in the Democratic primary. May, an educator who has taught high school math, Russian language and literature at the college level, is currently Coordinator of Sustainability Education at Syracuse University. Her legislative priorities include supporting the New York Health Act; campaign finance reform; the Climate and Community Protection Act; and women’s health and reproductive rights.
  • Democrat Karen McMahon unseated Republican Ray Walter in the 146th Assembly District, which includes the Erie County towns of Amherst and Pendleton and the Village of Williamsville. An attorney who has served as a law clerk to judges of the New York State Appellate Division and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York; McMahon has worked in private practice in recent years. Her legislative priorities include ensuring access to affordable education and health care; protecting the environment; protecting the interests of women, minorities, and under-represented people; and expanding voting rights.