Sharon Owens wins Syracuse mayoral democratic primary, other results
Sharon Owens won the Democratic mayoral primary with 62% of the vote with a campaign focused on safety, housing and economic growth. Democrats running for 8th District Onondaga County Legislature, Common Council and Board of Education Commissioners also secured spots on November's ballot. Alicia Hoppes | Staff Photographer
Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens won the Democratic primary race for mayor against Common Councilors Pat Hogan and Chol Majok on Tuesday, securing her spot on the November ballot.
Owens will run against uncontested Republican candidate Thomas Babilon and Independent candidate Tim Rudd to succeed sitting Independent Mayor Ben Walsh in 2026.
She won with just over 62% of 7,559 votes, according to unofficial results from the Onondaga County Board of Elections.
Owens campaigned on a platform focused on public safety, affordable housing and economic growth. As of Tuesday, she’s collected $232,000 in campaign donations and is endorsed by Walsh and the Advance Media New York editorial board.
As president of Blueprint 15, a Syracuse nonprofit working to revitalize the East Adams neighborhood, Owens champions “thriving neighborhoods,” fighting the city’s lead crisis and building an inclusive economy that supports LGBTQ+ and minority-owned businesses.
While Owens supports the Walsh administration’s efforts on the I-81 viaduct, oversight on Micron’s development and the city’s housing strategy, she says her leadership style will set her apart from her predecessor’s.
Owens’ primary win comes in a city where Democrats hold 53% of voter registrations and the last Republican mayor, Roy Bernardi, left office in 2001.
If elected, Owens would be Syracuse’s first Black mayor.
Other Results
Democrats Rasheada Caldwell and Hanah Ehrenreich won the primary for the two open seats on the city’s Common Council.
Chad Ryan won the 8th District Onondaga County Legislature primary against Tammy Honeywell. Ryan will face Republican incumbent Legislator Shawn Fiato on the ballot in November.
Karen Cordano, Twiggy Billue and Michael Root — all Democrats — won the primary for the Syracuse Board of Education Commissioners.
The general election will take place on Nov. 4.
