Newly-Elected State Legislators
December 3rd, 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 Peter Harckham, who defeated two-term incumbent Republican Terrence Murphy in the 40th Senate District, which includes parts of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Harckham previously served in the Westchester County Legislature and in the Cuomo Administration. His legislative priorities include increasing state education aid as a way to control local property taxes; enacting the Child Victims Act; campaign finance and voting reforms; and permitting the recreational use of marijuana.
- Republican Mark Walczyk defeated incumbent Democrat Addie Jenne; he will represent the 116th Assembly District, which includes parts of Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. Walczyk is a Watertown councilman who worked for Senator Patricia Ritchie and serves in the Army Reserves. His legislative priorities include job creation; environmental protection; an increasing support for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP); and addressing the opioid epidemic.
- Democrat Marianne Buttenschon won the race to replace fellow Democrat Anthony Brindisi, who successfully ran for a seat in Congress. Buttenschon works at Mohawk Valley Community College and runs a Christmas tree farm with her husband. She will represent the 119th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Utica and Rome in central New York. Her legislative priorities include public safety; cybersecurity; economic development; and training and education.
- In Central New York’s 121st Assembly District, Unshackle Upstate-endorsed Republican John Salka defeated incumbent Democrat Bill Magee. Salka currently serves as Supervisor of the Town of Brookfield. His legislative priorities include ethics reform; ensuring adequate education funding; supporting agriculture; and improving the state’s business climate.