Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — Election Day has arrived in the city of Syracuse. With current Mayor Ben Walsh leaving office after his final term, voters will choose a new mayor. Democratic candidate Sharon Owens is the frontrunner.
The last time Syracuse elected a Republican mayor was in 1977. Republican candidate Tom Babilon hopes to change that.
Independent candidates Alfonso Davis and Tim Rudd are also in the race. Voters are eager to make their mark in what many consider a pivotal election.
In Onondaga County, voters shattered the record for early voter turnout. Early voting was up 41% from the previous record for a local election year in 2023.
In the first three days, more than 5,000 people cast their ballots — setting a record pace for local elections. That total easily surpassed the previous two years, when under 3,000 people voted early.
Other towns in the county also reported strong turnout, with Manlius, Clay and DeWitt each seeing between 500 and 600 voters.
If Owens is victorious, she would become the first Black mayor in Syracuse history. Owens has never run for elected office before, but she previously served as deputy mayor under Walsh for eight years, working on issues including gun violence, police reform and housing.
Although Owens lost the Democratic Party’s designation in February to candidate Pat Hogan, she went on to defeat him in the Democratic primary.
Outside the mayoral race, voters are also deciding contests for the Syracuse Common Council, school board and Onondaga County Legislature.