Credit: Eddie Velazquez | Central Current

Syracuse Democrats designated Pat Hogan as their candidate in the 2025 race for Syracuse mayor. 

Hogan earned 60% of the committee’s votes while current Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens earned 39%. Jimmy Oliver earned 1%. 

While Hogan was the committee’s pick for mayor, there is expected to be a primary. 

Owens plans to challenge Hogan in the primary. Voting will take place in June if she collects enough petition signatures to get on the ballot. Current Common Councilor Chol Majok dropped out of the contest for the party’s designation, instead saying he would just compete in the party’s June primary. 

In the last two mayoral races, the winner of the Democratic primary was not the party’s designee. Khalid Bey in 2021 beat Michael Greene, the party’s designated candidate. In 2017, Juanita Perez Williams beat Joe Nicoletti. Each went on to lose the race for mayor to Ben Walsh. 

Republicans have designated Thomas Babilon as their candidate for mayor. Tim Rudd, who was formerly the city’s budget director, has stated his intention to run on an independent ballot line. Rudd, like Owens, will have to collect signatures to get on the ballot. 

Hogan has served two stints on the city’s Common Council, the first stretching from 2006 through 2014 and the second starting in 2020. He also serves as the chair of the Greater Syracuse Land Bank board and the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency board.

Before Owens served as deputy mayor, she was the deputy director of Neighborhood and Business Development under Mayor Stephanie Miner. She has also worked for Home Headquarters and Southwest Community Center. 

Democrats designated on Sunday a host of other candidates in other seats.

*Bold indicates incumbent

City of Syracuse

  • Mayor: Pat Hogan
  • Common Council: 
    • President: Rita Panaigua
    • Councilor at Large: Rasheada Caldwell, Amir Gethers
    • District 1: Marty Nave
    • District 2: Donna Moore
    • District 3: Corey Williams
    • District 4: Patrona Jones-Rowser
    • District 5: Jimmy Monto
  • Commissioner of Education: Nyatwa Bullock, Karen Cordano, Michael Root

Onondaga County Legislature

  • County Legislature District 1: Chad Majestic-Barnes
  • County Legislature District 2: Nicholas Blaney
  • County Legislature District 4: Jeremiah Thompson
  • County Legislature District 5: Ellen Block
  • County Legislature District 6: Gregg Eriksen
  • County Legislature District 7: Dan Romeo
  • County Legislature District 8: Chad Ryan
  • County Legislature District 9: Palmer Harvey
  • County Legislature District 10: Elaine Denton
  • County Legislature District 15: Mo Brown
  • County Legislature District 16: Charles Garland
  • County Legislature District 17: Nodesia Hernandez

Towns and villages

  • Manlius Town Councilor: Sara Bollinger, Katelyn Kriesel, and William Nicholson
  • Manlius Town Justice: David Rothschild
  • Manlius Town Supervisor: John Deer
  • Salina Town Board
    • Ward 1: Hayley Downs
    • Ward 2: Leesa Paul
    • Ward 4: Eliza Hewitt Driscoll
  • Spafford Town Supervisor: Laura Moran
  • Spafford Town Highway Superintendent: Jody Fisher

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Chris Libonati is the managing editor of Central Current. He is a founding editorial member of the organization and was hired as Central Current's first reporter. He previously worked at the Syracuse Post-Standard...