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Home ยป News ยป Close contests highlight Finger Lakes elections: Where do things stand now?

Close contests highlight Finger Lakes elections: Where do things stand now?

Editor’s Note: If you’re looking for results – check out our Decision 2025 page, which has results from all competitive races across the Finger Lakes.


With nearly all in-person votes counted across the Finger Lakes, absentee ballots are the only remaining factor in several close contests for county legislatures, city councils, and town supervisor seats.

County government: Cayuga, Schuyler, and Yates legislatures

In Cayuga County, Democrat Amy Colvin Sargent leads Republican Michael Pettigrass 893โ€“743 in the District 10 Legislature race.

In Schuyler County, Republican Robert Halpin won District 1 with 255 votes to Joan Hendy-Klineโ€™s 174. District 2 remains close, with Laurence Jaynes (R) narrowly ahead of Erich Asperschlager (D) 351โ€“348. Gail Walker (D) won District 3 with 475 votes to Kimberly Rhode-Rozellโ€™s (R) 308, and Jeffrey Fazzary (R) carried District 4 over Jennifer Mosher (CS) 250โ€“201.

In Yates County, voters selected three members for the District 2 Legislature seats. Richard Harper (R) led with 420 votes, followed by Richard Willson (R) with 397, Terry Button (R) with 376, and Klaas Martens (D) with 358.

City races: Auburn, Canandaigua, and Geneva

In Auburn, the City Council race remained closely divided, with all four candidates finishing within a narrow range of votes. Democrats Terry Cuddy and Ginny Kent led with 2,430 and 2,287 votes respectively, while Republicans Craig Diego and Joe Villano finished with 2,394 and 2,287. The results leave the final outcome dependent on absentee ballots, which will determine the makeup of the cityโ€™s next council.

In Canandaigua, Democrats swept the City Council races. Douglas Merrill (1,625), Gwen Van Laeken (1,633), Sim Covington Jr. (1,534), and J.T. Squires (1,517) all outpaced Republican challengers Jadon Hoffman (1,110) and Ron Ouimette (977).

The mayorโ€™s race was close, with Thomas Lyon (D) receiving 1,332 votes to Bob Palumboโ€™s (R) 1,232.

In Geneva, Ahmad Whitfield (D) won the at-large council seat 1,342โ€“969 over Charles Barnard Jr. (R). In Ward 2, Ben Gummoe (D) defeated Paul Dโ€™Amico (R) 325โ€“279. On the county level, James Kennedy (D) won the Wards 1 & 2 supervisor race 621โ€“205 over Sean Legg (BP); Jan Regan (D) won Wards 3 & 4 supervisor 671โ€“373 over James Babb (R); and Esther Dickinson (D) won Wards 5 & 6 supervisor 271โ€“133 over Joseph Adulte (R).

Town races: Canandaigua, Seneca Falls, and Waterloo see most-interesting races

In Canandaigua Town, the race between Don Cotter (D) and Jared Simpson (R) remains tied, with Cotter receiving 1,707 votes and Simpson 1,708.

In Naples, John Cowley (D) defeated William Stopka (R) 397โ€“231. Lisa Moore (D) won the South Bristol supervisor seat 454โ€“342 over Meghan Fuller (R).

In Richmond, Mike Baker (R) prevailed 613โ€“443 over Daryl Marshall (C), while in West Bloomfield, Tim Schiefen (D) led Ruth Smith (R) 478โ€“276.

In Seneca Falls, the race for two county supervisor seats remains extremely close. Jennifer Wick (D) leads with 1,097 votes, followed by Paul Kronenwetter (R) with 1,093, Mike Rhinehart (R) with 1,073, and Greg Lazzaro (D) with 748.

The Seneca Falls Town Board race is also tight. Gabby Cosentino (D) leads with 1,192 votes, followed by Wendy Crane (R) with 1,064, Lori Gnau (D) with 946, and Kenneth Hilkert (R) with 1,005.

In Waterloo, Howard Strader (R) and Tyrone Thomas (R) led the Town Board races with 761 and 806 votes, while Kate Woodhouse (D) and Matt Morrin (D) followed with 412 and 505. The vacancy race remains nearly tied, with Robert Dinan (D) at 654 and Steve Mueller (R) at 653.

Also in Waterloo, Ted Young (D) leads Don Trout (R) 677โ€“587 for town supervisor.

Boards of elections in each county will certify final results once absentee and affidavit ballots are counted in the coming days.