Elections Professional and Activist
In this week’s episode I talk about how the Onondaga County Board of Elections finished our vote by Mail and Affidavit counting this week. I touch on why we are still counting 10 days after election Day. I also talk about what’s next including write in canvassing and manual recounts. Enjoy.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/zoomwithczarny
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Another story in this election is about turnout. I will do more about this after certification, but going into the last scan we have some numbers on voter stats, specially voter turnout.
Best estimate of voter turnout 93,628 voters out of 313,859: 29.83%
However that is not the whole story. Right now this is typical local/odd year voter turnout. But when we delve into the party numbers another story is told:
Democrats 41,494 out of 116,357 35.66%
Republicans 27,406 out of 83,970 32.64%
Non-Enrolled 19,953 out of 94,634 21.08%
Lets compare this to 2023
Total Vote 90,744 out of 306,077 29.65%
Democrats 36,635 out of 116,344 31.49%
Republicans 30,920 out of 82,351 37.55%
Non-Enrolled 18,218 out of 87,231 20,88%
Now compare to 2021
Total Vote 94,306 out of 303,618 31.06%
Democrats 37,278 out of 116,710 31.94%
Republicans 33,048 out of 82,843 39.89%
Non-Enrolled 18,358 out of 82,777 22.18%
So looking at this sample size we see that while overall turnout and turnout among non-enrolled in 2025 was statistically about the same, Democratic turnout was 5-6% higher than 2023 & 2021 outpacing the GOP which was 5-7% lower than 2023 & 2021.
I will do a deeper dive post certification, but I think this is the first time I can remember where Democratic turnout significantly was better than GOP turnout. Even in other so called Democratic years we always seem to lag or barely tie GOP turnout. The turnout operation by Democratic candidates and party strategists deserves to be commended.
While the narrative is all about the anti-trump wave, the reality is candidates are the ones who put us here. This is why Democrats did so well in Onondaga County this last Tuesday. I recap the night ad tell you what’s ahead next week.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/zoomwithczarny
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While the CNY and National GOP want to only blame Trump for their losses (while they run to embrace Stefanik for Governor) they overlook the hard work of the candidates that put themselves in position to win. Many of these candidates in Onondaga County were first time candidates who were motivated by the state of the county and nation at the end of 2024, They went out there and worked hard, raised money, knocked doors, and most of all, believed.
There is a legitimate criticism that Onondaga County Democratic Committee in hindsight left many races blank. I share in that criticism, but they also had many areas with fuller slates than before, and won. And because of the even year law (legislation by NY Democrats and defended by local democrats) in town and County Legislature seats we get another chance next year.
Most towns need committee members, even if those committee members aren’t interested in running for office. The City of Syracuse can be hard to get involved in and towns like Manlius and Dewitt may be currently filled but always find a way to get people involved. However if you live outside those areas but specially in Camillus, Clay, Cicero, Lysander, Salina, Onondaga, Marcellus, Skaneateles, & Van Buren there are openings in committees that are active and will have seats up NEXT year.
Committee people chose the next candidates and help get them on the ballot. You may not run but there is someone in your network that might want to and being involved can help take advantage of this moment. Attached is a list of all Town Chairs on the OCDC website. Their work starts today, so does yours. Get involved, and if you are having an issue, reach out to me and I will help.
https://www.ocdemocrats.com/town-chairs-1
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Let’s talk more about what Blue Onondaga means. As a result of Tuesday’s elections Democrats now control a significant portion of Onondaga County governmental units. here is where we stand:
Onondaga County Legislature Democrats now control 10-7. This is in addition to holding county wide offices County Clerk, County Sheriff, and County Comptroller.
City of Syracuse Mayoral race flipping to blue means Democrats will have total control of city government for the first time since 2018.
Democrats retained total control of the towns of Dewitt and Manlius sweeping their town boards and electing a new Supervisor in Dewitt (Max Ruckdeschel for DeWitt Supervisor) and retaining a supervisor in Manlius (John Deer, Manlius Town Supervisor.
The Salina Sweep flipped the Town of Salina from Republican control to total Democratic control with Raul Huerta For Salina as Supervisor.
The Geddes Democratic town slate went 3 for 3 and now retains a 4-2 control for the Town Board (and Supervisor Susan Lafex was cross endorsed by the Democratic line).
The town of Spafford has a new Democratic Supervisor and 2 Democratic Councilors to form a 3-2 governing majority.
The town of Pompey has a Democratic Supervisor and Democratic board member with 2 GOP and a now open position up for election next year that could give Democrats a governing majority.
The town of Lysander has a Democratic Supervisor, and a Democratic Board member who will form a governing majority with a third Conservative Board Member.
The towns of Skaneateles, Marcellus, and Cicero (pending mail ballots and possible hand count) have Democratic Supervisors though the board remains in GOP hands.
The towns of Camillus and Clay now have three Democratic members and after having none just two years ago. Both are one member away from taking majority control.
The town of Onondaga will have its first Democratic town councilor in 50 years, and a second is close enough that we are awaiting a hand count.
All in all, this was just an unprecedented change in the balance of power in Onondaga County. But this was made possible by a ton of candidates who challenged GOP held seats and flipped them. Here is a list:
OCL 4 Jeremiah Thompson for County Legislature
OCL 5 Ellen Block
OCL 6 Gregg Eriksen for County Legislature
OCL 10 Elaine Denton for County Legislator
Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens For Mayor
Camillus Ward 3 Fred Covert
Camillus Ward 4 Laura Teufel
Camillus Ward 6 John O’Hara
Camillus Highway Superintendent Ken Stoneburg – “Stonie” for Camillus Highway Super
Cicero Town Supervisor Rob Santucci (pending mail ballots)
Clay Town Councilors Ryan Russell & Courtney Gauthier
Geddes Town Councilors Mark English & Tracy Walker
Lysander Town Councilor Edward Schmitt
Lysander Highway Superintendent Carl Magdziuk
Marcellus Town Supervisor Jane Carmody Attley
Marcellus Town Councilor Karen Pollard
Onondaga Town Councilor Ellen Magnarelli Terrien for Town of Onondaga Board
Pompey Town Supervisor Elect Diana Carpenter
Pompey Town Councilor Phil Dilmore
Salina Supervisor Raul Huerta For Salina
Salina 3rd Ward Page Steinhardt for Salina
Salina 4th Ward Eliza Hewitt Driscoll
Skaneateles Town Councilor Bob Lotkowictz
Spafford Supervisor Laura Moran
Baldwinsville Trustee Paul Dreher-Wiberg
Solvay Trustee 1st Ward John Cregg
State Supreme Court Snyder Fortino for Supreme Court, Candace L.L. Randall, John H W Dillon
Geddes Town Justice Jordan Aiello
Baldwinsville Village Justice Robert Rubinstein
Honorable mention Nicole Watts who had to overcome not having a line but defending a Democratic seat.
And Martin Brown in Onondaga who is in the hunt for a seat in Onondaga Town Board but probably going to a hand count.
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I appeared on the Jim Reath Show to wrap up the election and talk about what is next at the Onondaga County Board of Elections as well as the Democrats historic night.
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On the other side of a bipartisan office sits Dustin Czarny, the Democratic elections commissioner in Onondaga County. He highlighted the turnout of about 40,000 Democrats and the support from unaffiliated voters. He emphasized the successful targeting of key districts, “4, 5, and 10 were all targets for us, and almost every year for the Democratic Party, because of the registration of those districts, and finally, they all got over the hump together.”
…they didn’t just barely win, they crushed it.
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Democrats turned out to vote in higher numbers Tuesday than the last two elections, said Dustin Czarny, the Democratic county elections commissioner. More importantly, he said, Republicans stayed home.
He also said independent voters – a block that has been growing among young voters – likely leaned 3-1 for Democrats.
Democrats even won highway superintendent seats in traditional Republican strongholds like Lysander and Camillus, he said.
“This is beyond anybody’s expectation or even dreams,” he said.
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“If a voter comes in, they check in on the poll pad. The poll pad prints out a ballot and the voter then fills out the ballot, slides it into the scanner,” described Czarny. “The scanner tabulates it, but no one knows the results till they come here on election night.”
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Dustin Czarny, the county’s Democratic elections commissioner said this is a normal turnout for local elections. Many people typically show between 7-9 p.m., he said.
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Dustin M. Czarny