The race for the soon to be vacated 50th state Senate seat is on.
When state Sen. Bob Antonacci won a judgeship on Election Day mid-term, it essentially opened the door for Democrat John Mannion to gear up his campaign team for another shot at the job. He lost to Antonacci in 2018 by two percentage points. Mannion, a high school science teacher, announced his candidacy last month.
"We’ve been working to build those alliances again, to talk to as many community leaders as we can, civic leaders as we can, that’s what we’re doing,” Mannion said. “Our organization is in place and ready to go.”
It’s unclear when an election to fill the seat would take place. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he hasn’t made a decision yet, but there is talk it could happen at the same time as New York’s federal primary in April. No Republican has stepped forward to announce a candidacy. Mannion said his priorities haven’t changed from his first run, with the environment, jobs and education topping the list.
"And I feel like I can’t have anyone else in that seat in Albany,” Mannion said. “I’ve got to be there. I have a knowledge of education and a knowledge of science that I don’t believe anyone else brings to the table.”
The 50th, held for decades by Republican John DeFrancisco, essentially circles the city of Syracuse, mostly representing the suburbs of Onondaga County and parts of Cayuga County.