November 5, 2025
This election put Syracuse in fourth place of New York’s largest cities to elect a Black mayor and Albany in sixth place.
The state of New York noticed a number of firsts throughout the Nov. 4 election, together with Sharon Owens and Dorcey Applyrs turning into the primary Black mayors of Syracuse and Albany, respectively.
Each ladies secured victories of their respective Democratic races, defeating their opponents. Owens, 62, was elected as Syracuse’s fifty fifth mayor and the primary Black mayor within the metropolis’s 177-year historical past, in response to Syracuse.com. With a 40-year profession in public service, Owens secured over 73% of the vote, beating Republican Thomas Babilon and unbiased candidates Alfonso Davis and Tim Rudd.
In her victory speech, she spoke to the elders of the neighborhood who had waited many years to see somebody of her likeness with the chance for change.
“To the elders of this neighborhood, you who for many years seemed to the way forward for a time when there could be a mayor that appears such as you, that comes out of your expertise, that understands the battle, that will get the hopes and the aspiration of generations of Syracusans … I’m going to work arduous to make you proud,” Owens stated to her supporters.
Albany, New York’s capital metropolis, elected Applyrs as the primary Black mayor in over 300 years for the reason that city was chartered. She is the fifth mayor elected since 1942, outbeating Republican Rocco Pezzulo with 11,784 votes to his 1,922, in response to the Occasions Union.
In her victory speech after strolling out to Jay-Z’s “Run This City,” Applyrs promised to be a pacesetter who would signify all of Albany. “That is our second,” she stated.
“We earned this second, and it’s a tremendous second.”
The brand new mayor-elect additionally has a protracted historical past of public service, serving because the Widespread Council consultant for the first Ward for six years earlier than being appointed chief metropolis auditor in 2020, and profitable the title unopposed in 2021. Throughout her speech, Applyrs thanked those that got here earlier than her and weren’t right here to see the fruits of their arduous work and sacrifices.
“It’s my flip to do the identical — to ensure each younger individual on this metropolis is aware of that they belong, that they’ve a seat on the desk, and that they’ll construct a future proper right here in our metropolis,” she stated.
“You don’t should go wherever.”
This election put Syracuse in fourth place amongst New York’s largest cities to elect a Black mayor, and Albany in sixth place.
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