Elections 2023: Some incumbents fall in Mid-Hudson valley primary results

At least some incumbents fell as Hudson Valley residents went to the polls Tuesday to choose candidates who will represent the Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Working Families parties in the general election in November's general election.

Turnout was generally low in Tuesday's primary, with only a handful of candidates receiving more than a thousand votes.

City of Poughkeepsie mayor

In a three-way Democratic primary for mayor of the city of Poughkeepsie, incumbent Mayor Marc Nelson ran third behind two challengers.

Yvonne Flowers led the field according to unofficial totals, drawing 706 votes, or just over 40 percent of the total votes cast. She was followed by another challenger, Wesley J. Lee, with 635 votes or 36.2 percent of the total votes cast. Nelson trailed with 411 votes cast, or 23.5 percent.

Nelson, a former city administrator, assumed the mayor's job after former mayor Rob Rolison was elected to the state Senate last year.

Flowers will now face Republican Anthony LaRocca, described by a party member as a long-time city resident, in the general election in November.

Kingston mayor

In another mayoral primary on the other side of the Hudson River, incumbent Kingston Mayor Steve Noble drew 1,083 votes, just over 65 percent of all votes cast, to 575 votes for Frank Waters, according to unofficial results in the Democratic primary.

Noble will now face Scott Denny, the Republican and Conservative candidate, in the general election in November.

Sullivan district attorney

In another high-profile race, acting Sullivan County District Attorney Brian Conaty easily outdistanced challenger Thomas Cawley in the Republican primary, with 1,555 votes, or 73.35 percent of all votes cast, to 561 votes, or 26.46 percent, for Cawley.

Because Conaty already has the Democratic line in the general election in November, he is now assured of winning the office.

In a statement issued late Tuesday night, Cawley conceded the race.

"While this was not the result I was hoping for, I want to thank the voters who signed my petition, listened to me at doors, shook my hand at events and made me feel welcome 100 percent of the time," Cawley said. "I wish Brian Conaty well as our next district attorney, because our success in fighting crime now lies with him."

Sullivan county legislature

There also were Republican primaries for two of the county's nine legislative seats.

In the seventh district, incumbent Joseph Perrello received 141 votes to 39 for challenger John Lacey.

In the ninth district, Terry L. Blosser-Bernardo got 192 votes, or 71 percent of those cast, to 76 for Christopher B. Rose. He will now challenge Republican George Nikolados in the general election. Incumbent Alan Sorensen, also a Republican, chose not to run for re-election.

Town supervisor races

In a Republican primary for Wappinger town supervisor, incumbent Richard Thurston trailed Joseph Cavaccini, with 613 votes for Cavaccini to 468 for Thurston.

In Orange County, incumbent Chester Supervisor Robert Valentine won the Republican primary with 262 votes to 223 for Robert Courteney.

Incumbent Cornwall Supervisor Josh Wojehowski received 636 votes to 214 for town board member Virginia Scott in the Democratic primary.

In Mount Hope, incumbent Supervisor Matthew Howell lost the Republican primary to Paul J. Rickard Jr, 248 to 124.

New Windsor's Republican primary to find a potential successor to incumbent Supervisor George Meyers, who is retiring, likely will have a recount, as three votes separated the two challengers. Colin J. Schmitt received 754 votes to 751 for Stephen Bedetti. So far there is no Democratic candidate in the race.

And in Ulster County, Gardiner Supervisor Marybeth Majestic received 377 votes to 326 for challenger Tim Hunter in the Democratic primary.

Incumbent Hurley Supervisor Melinda McKnight defeated challenger Michael Boms, 353 to 234 in the Democratic primary.

In a race between two newcomers in the Shawangunk Republican primary for supervisor, Ken Ronk received 412 votes and Adrian DeWitt received 126 votes

And in Woodstock, incumbent Democratic Supervisor Bill McKenna received 770 votes, to 673 for challenger Bennet Ratcliff.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Elections 2023: Mid-Hudson valley primary results