Hudson Valley Election Day 2023 recap: What to know
Residents across the Hudson Valley hit the polls Tuesday to decide key local races.
Some of the top local offices up for election this year included Dutchess County executive, City of Poughkeepsie mayor, City of Newburgh mayor and Town of New Windsor supervisor, as well as several legislature seats in Sullivan, Ulster and Dutchess counties.
Click here for live election results.
Dutchess County district attorney race results
Democrat Anthony Parisi will be leading the Dutchess County district attorney office after Republican William Grady, who has held that seat for 40 years, retires.
Parisi won against Republican Matthew Weishaupt 34,810 to 32,539. Both Parisi and Weishaupt have worked under Grady for some time. Weishaupt is chief assistant district attorney and Parisi is major crimes bureau chief.
"I am grateful to the Dutchess County voters for putting their faith in me to be their next District Attorney. I will work hard as their DA to keep our communities safe and ensure that the system is just and fair to everyone," Parisi said.
Parisi started his career in the Dutchess County Public Defender's Office in 1995 before becoming an assistant district attorney. His wife, Sinead McLoughlin, is a senior assistant district attorney for Dutchess County.
Parisi had previously said the district attorney's office had "failed to keep pace with modern ways of operating." He plans to implement technology that will streamline and eliminate paperwork and expedite evidence sharing. He also wants to create a portal by which victims and those accused are notified and updated about cases.
Dutchess County legislature race results
Republicans may still hold the 15-10 majority in the Dutchess County legislature, though they may have lost their long standing chair. Absentee votes still need to be counted to call some of the races.
Democrat Chris Drago holds a 60-vote lead against Republican A. Gregg Pulver in the race to represent District 19 which covers Pine Plains, Milan, Stanford, North East and Millerton Village. Pulver has been in the the legislature for a decade and is the chair of the legislative body.
Drago said he was still waiting to hear from Pulver as of 11:30 p.m. Pulver could not be reached by the Journal.
Drago is a business executive with over 20 years of experience. This is the first time he has run for public office.
"The needs of our communities were just not being met by county government," Drago said. "Seeing the mismanagement of dollars like the $25 million going towards improvements on a minor league baseball park when there are basic services in our towns that are not being met."
In 2022, the legislature approved the 2023 county budget that included a $25 million amendment to pay for improvements to Dutchess Stadium. The legislature has decided on contentious issues such as placing the county's homeless shelter in the city of Poughkeepsie even as the city's elected officials and residents continue to challenge the decision.
Dutchess County’s Independent Reapportionment Commission submitted its map in 2022, rewriting the legislative landscape in the county in accordance with the most recent U.S. Census totals.
An interactive map showing district borders in relation to major roads is available at gis.dutchessny.gov/irc-plan-2022/
Dutchess County Executive race results
Republican Sue Serino will be the next Dutchess County executive having won against veteran Tommy Zurhellen 35,743 to 29,596. Serino, a real estate business owner and broker, represented the 41st state senate district for three terms. After redistricting, Serino lost the district to Democrat Michelle Hinchey last year.
Serino said that once she gets into office she hopes to start working on issues such as the homeless population, affordable housing, child care and public safety.
"I want to have roundtable and include the community like I've always done," Serino said. "Community engagement is something that I want to bring to the county executive's office like we did in the senate."
Serino will continue the long legacy of Republican leadership in the county, which has lasted over two decades.
"It’s just an exciting night, I don’t know what else to say," Serino said to her supporters Tuesday. "I think it’s all about celebrating right now."
City of Poughkeepsie Mayor race results
Democrat Yvonne Flowers becomes the first Black mayor of the city of Poughkeepsie having received 3,195 votes compared to Republican Anthony LaRocca Jr.'s 1,474 as of Tuesday night. Flowers has represented Ward 5 on the city's Common Council for four terms and is a graduate of the city's school district.
Flowers will succeeding Marc Nelson, who became mayor and city administrator in January after Rob Rolison was elected to the state senate last year.
Poughkeepsie Town Supervisor race results
As of Tuesday night, Democrat Rebecca Edwards is leading with 37 votes against longtime incumbent Republican Jay Baisley for town of Poughkeepsie supervisor, with some absentee ballots waiting to be counted.
Edwards had represented the town of Poughkeepsie in the county legislature and lost her seat to Tony D'Aquanni in the 2021 election by a very narrow margin.
"I look forward to making sure that we do the process thoroughly and to make sure we count every vote carefully, but I hope very much that we'll bring some change to the town of Poughkeepsie," Edwards said, knowing that there were some absentee votes that still needed to be counted.
Polls have closed
Polls have closed across the Hudson Valley. Election Day voting ends at 9 p.m.
More early voters in Dutchess County for 2023 election
More voters turned out for early voting this year than in 2021, according to Democrat elections Commissioner Hannah Black.
In 2021 the early voting brought in a little over 8,000 votes. This year there were 14,214 votes cast in early voting, Black said. Of those who voted early, 7,662 were Democrats and 3,388 were Republicans.
Due to redistricting, the number of poll sites open today were reduced to 67 sites from 107 sites last year. Many voters were redirected to new poll sites through mailings prior to the election and also signage placed at closed poll site locations. There have been no issues so far at any of the sites, according to Black.
Dutchess County’s Independent Reapportionment Commission submitted its map in 2022, rewriting the legislative landscape in the county in accordance with the most recent U.S. Census totals.
An interactive map showing district borders in relation to major roads is available at gis.dutchessny.gov/irc-plan-2022/
LaGrange voters weigh in on Election Day
In a packed parking lot outside the LaGrange Fire District station on Freedom Plains Road Tuesday afternoon, voters like 71-year-old Dave Arcelay shared their motivations for casting their ballot.
"It's always important to vote," he said.
Beatrice McCormick, an educator from LaGrange who declined to give her age, said, "I was taught to vote. This is a free country. I always vote, so that’s why I’m here today."
“Do you want to see change?" said Eileen Cirigliano, 66, of LaGrange. "You got to do something about it."
Races to watch in Ulster County
Voters in Ulster County will decide several legislature races Tuesday.
In the City of Kingston, Democrat incumbent Steven T. Noble faces Scott E. Denny in the race for mayor.
Check your town's races in the Ulster County sample ballots.
Voters cast their ballots in Town of Poughkeepsie
A steady stream of voters stopped by to cast their ballots at the New Hamburg Fire District in the Town of Poughkeepsie Tuesday morning.
In addition to county races, voters here will decide between Rebecca Edwards and Jon J. Baisley for town supervisor.
Races to watch in Orange County
In the City of Newburgh, three candidates are vying for the mayor spot: Republican John N. Giudice, Democrat Torrance R. Harvey and Independent Hael V. Stewart-Fisher.
In the Town of New Windsor, voters will choose their town supervisor between Republican Stephen A. Bedetti, and Colin J. Schmitt, who's running on the Conservative line.
Check your town's races on the Orange County sample ballots site.
Races to watch in Dutchess County
In the City of Poughkeepsie, Democrat Yvonne D. Flowers and Republican Anthony M. LaRocca Jr. are vying for the mayoral spot.
Dutchess County voters will also decide the county executive race, between candidates Susan J. Serino, a Republican, and Tommy Zurhellen, a Democrat.
Check your town's races on the Dutchess County sample ballots site.
What time are polls open on Election Day?
Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Early voting took place between Oct. 28 and Nov. 5 at various polling locations across the Hudson Valley.
Where can I vote in person?
Check here for polling locations in each county:
Check back for more updates.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Hudson Valley NY Election Day 2023: Recap, results
