2020 NYS Legislative Primaries

June 18th, 2020

On Tuesday (6/23), New York will hold the first state legislative primaries under the new political calendar. Despite the new date and the unprecedented cloud of a public health crisis, much of the traditional political dynamics are the same. Upstate primaries remain rare, occurring almost exclusively in open seats where the incumbent is retiring or seeking higher office. In contrast, downstate features several races, particularly in Democrat enclaves where the primary is almost certain to determine the outcome in November.

Below is a list of some of the significant primaries taking place next week.

While the majority of upstate primaries are taking place in open seats, many of the significant downstate primaries feature well known incumbents being challenged by progressive activists. Prominent Democrats like Catherina Nolan, Michael Dendekker, David Weprin, Arvella Simotas and Joe Lentol are all facing primary challenges. Many of the candidates are backed by the “NO IDC” groups or DSA, who have turned their focus toward electing more progressive members to the state legislature.

More than any one race, the most interesting outcome to watch for on Tuesday will be whether New York continues to trend further to the left. Many of the primaries feature a spectrum of candidates with progressives looking to increase their foothold in Albany. Tuesday’s races will provide a sense of how much change we should anticipate in the legislature in the years to come.

New York State Senate Primaries

Senate District 61 (Erie, Genesee, Monroe) – Open (Ranzenhofer)

Dem Candidates: Jacqualine Berger, Joan Seamans, Kim Smith
Rep Candidates: Ed Rath

Senate District 56 (Monroe) – Open (Robach)

Dem Candidates: Jeremy Cooney, Hilda Rosario Escher, Sherita Traywick
Rep Candidates: Michael Barry Jr.

Senate District 46 (Montgomery, Green, Schenectady, Albany, Ulster) – Open (Amedore)

Dem Candidates: Gary Greenberg, Michelle Hinchey
Rep Candidates: Richard Amedure

Senate District 38 (Rockland, Westchester) – Open (Carlucci)

Dem Candidates: Eudson Francois, Elijah Richlin-Melnick, Justin Sweet
Rep Candidates: William Weber Jr., Matthew Weinberg

Senate District 32 (Bronx) – Sepulveda

Dem Candidates: Luis Sepulveda, John Perez, Pamela Stewart-Martinez
Rep Candidates: None

Senate District 25 (Brooklyn) – Open (Montgomery)

Dem Candidates: Jabari Brisport, Jason Salmon, Tremaine Wright
Rep Candidates: None

Senate District 12 (Queens) – Gianaris

Dem Candidates: Mike Gianaris, Iggy Terranova
Rep Candidates: None

Senate District 1 (Suffolk) – Open (LaValle)

Dem Candidates: Laura Ahearn, Valerie Cartwright, Nora Higgins, Skyler Johnson, Thomas Schiavoni
Rep Candidates: Anthony Palumbo

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY PRIMARIES

Assembly District 149 (Erie) – Open (Ryan)

Dem Candidates: Adam Bojak, Robert Quintana, Jonathan Rivera
Rep Candidates: Joseph Totaro

Assembly District 140 (Erie, Niagara) – Open (Schimminger)

Dem Candidates: William Conrad, Kevin Stocker
Rep Candidates: Robert Pecoraro

Assembly District 138 (Monroe) – Bronson

Dem Candidates: Harry Bronson, Alex Yudelson
Rep Candidates: Peter Vazquez

Assembly District 137 (Monroe) – Open (Gantt)

Dem Candidates: Ernest Flagler, Ann Lewis, Desmond Meeks, Silvan Orsi
Rep Candidates: None

Assembly District 136 (Monroe) – Open (Romeo)

Dem Candidates: Sarah Clark, Nelson Lopatin, Justin Wilcox
Rep Candidates: None

Assembly District 134 (Monroe) – Open (Lawrence)

Dem Candidates: Carolyn Carrol, Dylan Dailor
Rep Candidates: Josh Jensen

Assembly District 131 (Ontario, Seneca) – Open (Kolb)

Dem Candidates: Matthew Miller
Rep Candidates: Jeff Gallahan, Ann Marie Heizmann, Jeff Shipley, Cynthia Wade

Assembly District 126 (Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Onondaga) – Open (Finch)

Dem Candidates: Dia Carabajal
Rep Candidates: Daniel Fitzpatrick, John Lemondes Jr.

Assembly District 125 (Cortland, Tompkins) – Open (Lifton)

Dem Candidates: Sujata Gibson, Beau Harbin, Lisa Hoeschele, Anne Kelles, Jason Leifer, Jordan Lesser, Seph Murtagh
Rep Candidates: Matthew McIntyre

Assembly District 122 (Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego) – Open (Crouch)

Dem Candidates: Richard Shaw
Rep Candidates: Joe Angelino, Victor Furman, Nicholas Libous, James Powers

Assembly District 108 (Albany) – McDonald

Dem Candidates: John McDonald, Samuel Fein
Rep Candidates: Petros Papanicolaou

Assembly District 93 (Westchester) – Open (Buchwald)

Dem Candidates: Kristen Browde, Chris Burdick, Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, Mark Jaffe, Alexander Roithmayr
Rep Candidates: John Nuculovic

Assembly District 51 (Brooklyn) – Ortiz

Dem Candidates: Felix Ortiz, Genesis Aquino, Marcela Mitaynes, Katherine Walsh
Rep Candidates: Rep

Assembly District 50 (Brooklyn) – Lentol

Dem Candidates: Joe Lentol, Emily Gallagher, Brady Aarons
Rep Candidates: None

Assembly District 37 (Queens) – Nolan

Dem Candidates: Catherine Nolan, Danielle Brecker, Mary Jobaida
Rep Candidates: None

Assembly District 36 (Queens) – Simotas

Dem Candidates: Arvella Simotas, Zohran Kwame Mamdani
Rep Candidates: None

Assembly District 35 (Queens) – Aubry

Dem Candidates: Jeffrion Aubry, Hiram Monserrate
Rep Candidates: Han Khon To

Assembly District 34 (Queens) – Dendekker

Dem Candidates: Michael Dendekker, Joy Chowdhury, Angel Cruz, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, Nuala O’Doherty-Naranjo
Rep Candidates: William Marquez

Assembly District 24 (Queens) – Weprin

Dem Candidates: David Weprin Albert Baldeo, Mahfuzul Islam
Rep Candidates: None

Primary Day is Tuesday, June 23rd. You can find your polling place here.