With Election Day 2022 less than a month away, Upstate United has prepared a guide to key state legislative races. This guide, which focuses on 10 legislative races, includes basic background information about the candidates. If you’re registered to vote in any of these districts, we strongly encourage you to either vote early by mail or in person on Election Day. Voting is essential to our democracy so be sure to cast your ballot this year!
41st Senate District (View district map)
Michelle Hinchey (D, WFP)
https://michellehinchey.com/
https://www.facebook.com/michellehincheystatesenate
Michelle Hinchey is a member of the New York State Senate. She’s a former executive in the technology and media fields. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development.
Sue Serino (R, C, I)
https://www.sueserino.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SenatorSueSerino
Sue Serino is a member of the New York State Senate. She has experience as a small business owner and has previously served on the Hyde Park Town Board in 2010 and the Dutchess County Legislature in 2011.
43rd Senate District (View district map)
Jake Ashby (R, C)
www.jake-ashby.com
www.facebook.com/JakeAshbyforNYSSenate
Jake Ashby recently served as a member of the New York State Assembly. He previously worked as an occupational therapist, educator and he is a U.S. Army veteran.
Andrea Smyth (D, WFP)
www.andreasmyth.com
www.facebook.com/AndreaForSenate
Andrea Smyth is the President & CEO of the New York State Coalition for Children’s Behavioral Health. She formerly served in the New York State Division of Budget.
48th Senate District (View district map)
Julie Abbott (R)
https://www.julieabbott.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JulieAbbottStateSenate/
Julie Abbott currently serve as County Legislator to the 6th Legislative District in Onondaga County. She has served on the CNY Regional Planning and Development Board and has worked as a news anchor and investigative reporter.
Rachel May (D, WFP)
http://www.rachelmay.org/
https://www.facebook.com/RachelMayNY
Rachel May is a member of the New York State Senate. She previously worked as an educator at SUNY Stony Brook and Syracuse University.
50th Senate District (View district map)
John Mannion (D, WFP)
https://www.mannionforstatesenate.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MannionForSenate/
John Mannion is a member of the New York State Senate. He is a former public school teacher in the West Genesee School District and has served as the President for the West Genesee Teachers’ Association.
Rebecca Shiroff (R, C)
https://www.rebeccashiroff.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ShiroffforSenate
Rebecca Shiroff is a program analyst for Onondaga County’s Office of Economic Development. She previously owned a small business owner and served on the Fayetteville-Manlius Board of Education.
52nd Senate District (View district map)
Rich David (R,C)
https://www.richdavidforsenate.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RichDavidforSenate
Rich David most recently served as the Mayor of the city of Binghamton. He has served as the President of the New York State Conference of Mayors. In addition to his exeprience as an elected official, Rich was public affairs officer at SUNY Broome Community College.
Lea Webb (D, WFP)
https://www.leawebb.com/
https://www.facebook.com/leawebbforny
Lea Webb currently works as an educator at Binghamton University. She is a former Binghamton City Council member and is a Co-Chair/Co-Founder of the Black Millennial Political Convention.
55th Senate District (View district map)
Samra Brouk (D, WFP)
https://samraforsenate.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBrouk
Samra Brouk is a member of the New York State Senate. She has served in the United States Peace Corps and as a board member of REACH Advocacy in Rochester.
Len Morrell (R, C, I)
https://www.morrellforstatesenate.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LenMorrell
Len Morrell is the founder and CEO of Morrell Manufacturing as well as LCM Properties. He volunteers at UPREP Charter school and the Rochester Animal Shelter.
56th Senate District (View district map)
Jeremy Cooney (D, WFP)
https://www.jeremycooney.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SenatorCooney
Jeremy Cooney is a member of the New York State Senate. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Hobart & William Smith Colleges and is the Vice Chair of the Executive Board for the Seneca Waterways Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Jim VanBrederode (R, C, I)
https://www.vanbrederodeforsenate.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JimVanbrederode
Jim VanBrederode previously served as the Chief of Police in the town of Gates. He served as the president of the Monroe County Chief’s Association from 2017 through 2022 and helped establish Gates to Recovery, a drop-in center for opioid addicts, in 2017.
61st Senate District (View district map)
Sean Ryan (D, WFP)
https://seanryansenate.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SenatorSeanRyan
Sean Ryan is a member of the New York State Senate. From 2011 through 2020, he served in the New York State Assembly. He has served on the Board of Directors for numerous non-profit organizations including Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, Housing Opportunities Made Equal and Autistic Services Inc.
Ed Rath III (R, C)
https://www.edrathforsenate.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SenatorEdRath
Ed Rath is a member of the New York State Senate. He previously served the 6th district in the Erie County Legislature. Additionally, he has volunteered for organizations including the Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, Rotary International, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
113th Assembly District (View district map)
David Catalfamo (R, C)
https://daveforny.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DaveForNY113
Dave Catalfamo serves as a member of the Wilton Planning Board. He has previously served as a senior vice president of the Empire State Development Corporation during the Pataki administration and as a liaison to the Olympic Regional Development Authority.
Carrie Woerner (D)
https://carriewoerner.com/
https://www.facebook.com/VoteCarrie/
Carrie Woerner is a member of the New York State Assembly. Prior to being elected in 2014, she was the vice president and general manager of MeetMax Conference Software and also worked for tech companies including Dell/Perot Systems and IBM.
115th Assembly District (View district map)
Stephen Chilton (R, C)
https://www.chiltonfornysassembly115.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ChiltonIIIforNYSAssembly
Stephen Chilton has extensive experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors. He has been a delivery driver for UPS for 20 years and previously worked with the Clinton County ARC.
Billy Jones (D, BNP)
https://www.dbillyjones.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AssemblymanDBillyJones
Billy Jones is a member of the New York State Assembly. He is a board member of the United Way of the Adirondack Region. In 2020, Assemblyman Jones was named Co-Chair of the Council of State Governments’ Eastern Regional Conference’s Canada-U.S. Relations Committee.