All nine legislative seats are up for election in Sullivan County. All districts have competitive elections with the exception of District 6, Luis Alvarez (D), and District 7, Joseph Perrello (D) (R),who are running unopposed. 

This will be the first election since new legislative districts were approved by the current legislature in 2022. 

The current chairman of the legislature, Robert Doherty (R) (C), District 1, is being challenged by Matt McPhillips (D) (Sullivan United), who has previously worked for former Rep. John Faso and in Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther’s office. 

In District 2, incumbent Nadia Rajsz (D) (Sullivan United) is being challenged by Joanne Conway Jasper, a Sullivan County native.

In District 3, incumbent Michael Brooks (R)(C) is being challenged by Brian McPhillips (D)(People Over Politics), a three-term councilman for the Town of Liberty. 

Maryallison Farley will go up against current legislator Nick Salomone for the District 4 seat. 

Incumbent George Conklin, a lifelong resident of the county, faces SUNY Sullivan alum Catherine Scott in District 5. 

District 8 will have two new faces to choose from, as current minority leader Ira Steingart will not be running for reelection. Amanda Ward (R) will face off against Justin Picciotti (D)(Sullivan United) to fill the seat. 

Lastly in District 9, George Nikolados (D) (Sullivan United) will challenge Terry Bernardo. 

With the election coming on the heels of a lawsuit between current legislators Doherty and Alvarez, controversy over the death of a child in the county, and delays in the release of opioid settlement funds, the legislative election could largely serve as a referendum on the current ruling body. 

Read the candidate statements for legislature here.

Town of Bethel: Daniel Sturm (D) (Sullivan United) will run unopposed for supervisor, a role he’s filled for 16 years. Rita Sheehan (R) (C), running unopposed, will enter her 27th year as town clerk. Town justice, another unopposed race, will fall to Cindy Barber (D) (Working Families). But the answer of who will win the two town council seats will be determined on election day. Candidates Bernard Cohen (D) (Sullivan United), Clifford Manning (D) (Sullivan United), Lisa Schick (R) (C), and Wendy Brown (R) (C) have all thrown their hats in. Now it’s up to the town of Bethel. Superintendent of highways will be a toss-up between Jr. and Jr.—Robert Bonnaci Jr. (D)(Sullivan United) and James Crowley Jr. (R) (C) are both running. Susan Brown (R) (C) is running unopposed for tax collector.

Read the candidate statements for Bethel here.

Callicoon, Cochecton, Delaware and Fremont: There will only be one unopposed candidate in Callicoon. The only contested election in the town is for town council, where only two of the three candidates will win. Christopher Hubert (R) (C), Annette Rasmussen (R) and David J. Kuebler (C) are the three choices. 

Cochecton wins! There will not be a single competitive town race in the Town of Cochecton; you’re a winner, you’re a winner, everyone’s a winner! The winning streak will continue in Delaware, where drum roll please… everyone will win! There will be no contested town races in Delaware. 

Fremont has two competitive races: town council and superintendent of highways. John Meyer (D), Paul Kellam  (D) and Scott Herbert (R) will compete for the two council seats, while Stephen Pfefferkorn (D) and David Holt (R) duke it out for superintendent of highways. 

Highland has some high competition. Each of the town races—supervisor, town council member and superintendent of highways—will be competitive. John Pizzolato (D) (Lifting Neighbors) is running against Donald Jeff Haas (R) (C) for supervisor. The ballot for town council is stacked with four contenders: Rebecca Morabito (D) (Sullivan United), Laura Burrell (D) (Lifting Neighbors), Thomas Migliorino (R), and James Sallusto (R). A trifecta of candidates will run for superintendent of highways: Joe Barnes (D) (Sullivan United), Orson Davis Jr. (C ) and James Akt (R). 

Read the candidate statements for Callicoon, Cochecton,  Fremont, and Highland here.

Tusten will only be tough for those running for town council—the only contested town race. Bruce Gettel (D) (R) (C), Cass Collins (D) and Kevin Markham (R) (C) are running for the two open seats on the town council. 

Lumberland will have no surprises on election night: the town justice, Craig W. Cherry (R) (C) and town council members Leigh Sherman (R) (C)  and Robert King (R) (C) are running unopposed. 

Read the candidate statements for Tusten and Lumberland here.

State Supreme Court, Third Judicial District, has four candidates and only three spots. One of these four will not be elected to serve as State Supreme Court Judge: Dana Salazar (R) (C), Richard Rivera (D) (Working Families), Sherri Brooks-Morton (D) (Working Families) and  Daniel  Lynch (D) (Working Families). The River Reporter will be running an in-depth brief on this race next week. 

District attorney, unopposed, is Brian Conaty (D) (R) (C). The county clerk, also unopposed, is Russell Reeves  (D) (R) (C). Last, but certainly not least, the Sullivan County Coroner, also unopposed, will be Alan Kesten (R) (C).

Read the candidate statements for State Supreme Court, DA, County Clerk, and County Coroner here.