DSA members and progressives pulled off Democrats’ second historic election upset in less than a year. An organized campaign and a rising affordability crisis helped topple a CNY titan.
CNY Decides 2026
Maurice ‘Mo’ Brown declares victory while Magnarelli concedes in Democratic primary for Assembly seat
One DSA member likened Brown’s victory to U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s unlikely rise in 2018, calling it, “Central New York’s ‘Joe Crowley moment.’”
CNY Decides podcast: Breaking down the closest primary races
Listen to takeaways, results and more from Central New York’s primary election cycle.
Meet the 3 Democrats vying for the party line in the race for an at-large seat on the Syracuse Common Council
Councilor Helen Hudson faces two progressive challengers: Cjala Surratt, a longtime community organizer, Moise Laub, a city schools budget analyst.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s case for re-election is intrinsically tied to Micron and housing, local leaders say
While Hochul is not facing a primary challenge, she is gearing up for Republican opponent Bruce Blakeman after the tightest gubernatorial election in nearly 30 years.
Democrats flipped control of the Onondaga County Legislature in 2025. Will they keep it?
Voter registration trends and even-year elections may benefit Democrats. But they have just 10 months to convince voters they deserve four more years.
Residents of Clay will elect their new town supervisor this year. The result could have an outsized effect on Micron
Two Clay town board members are vying to become supervisor. Democrats are bullish they can flip the seat and eventually gain control of the town board.
President Donald Trump has been pushing Congress to pass the SAVE Act. What would its passage mean?
As Democrats campaign to flip control of the U.S. Congress, Republicans hope to heed Trump’s calls to pass a controversial voter ID law before the upcoming midterm elections.
Is Central New York becoming a blue bunker for Congressional Democrats?
National and local experts expect New York’s 22nd Congressional District to stay blue. Candidates say different.
CNY Decides 2026
Central Current and WAER Syracuse Public Media are joining forces to demystify the political process, bringing you the stories and information you’ll remember in the voting booth in 2026.

