Primary voting was underway Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Grant D. Morse Elementary School in Saugerties. (DianePineiro-Zucker photo)
KINGSTON, N.Y. — Democratic candidates for the 41st Senate District and 103 Assembly District have amassed campaign war chests that dwarf those of their Republican opponents, according to the latest campaign finance filings submitted to the state Board of Elections.
41st Senate
Incumbent Sen. Michelle Hinchey had a whopping $410,572 in her campaign coffers as of the July 11, 2024, cut-off date. According to the filing, Hinchey, D-Saugerties, started the reporting period with $189,293.90 in her treasury. She received 408 contributions over that timeframe, raising $107,263.75 in contributions and an additional $166,626 in miscellaneous receipts, for a total of $273,899.75 raised during the quarter.
According to her filing, Hinchey spent $52,610 on her campaign, leaving her with $410,572 in her campaign treasury.
By contrast, Republican Patrick Sheehan, a Ruby resident who is running against Hinchey in her bid for election to a second two-year term in the state Senate, started the reporting period with $4,152.01. He received $2,445 in contributions over that time and spent $1,693.75, leaving him with $4,903 in his treasury.
103rd Assembly
Incumbent Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestra, started the reporting period with $144,131 in her campaign coffers, according to her July 15 filing. She received $7,179.74 in contributions and $3,767 in miscellaneous contributions.
Shrestha, who faced a primary battle against Gabriella “Gabi” Madden, spent $78,306, leaving her with $76,771.88 as she heads into the regular election season. Shrestha, D-Esopus, handily defeated Madden in the June primary.
Jack Hayes, Shrestha’s Republican opponent, did not file a report with the state Board of Elections. According to a previous filing, Hayes, the Conservative Party Chairman and former Ulster County legislator from Gardiner, contributed $100 to his campaign and hadn’t spent any funds.
51st Senate
Incumbent State Sen. Peter Oberacker, R-Schenevus, started the campaign period with $12,425 and raised another $12,137.80 through campaign contributions. He spent $17,889.40 in his race for election to a seat he has held since 2021, leaving him with a campaign war chest of $6,674.
Michele Frazier, who is facing off against Oberacker in the Nov. 5 election, started the campaign reporting period with $7,749 and took in a whopping $21,106 in campaign contributions.
Frazier, an assistant professor of criminal justice at SUNY Delhi, spent $16,034.68 on her campaign, leaving her with $12,820.60 in her campaign war chest.
101st Assembly
Incumbent GOP Assemblyman Brian Maher started the reporting period with $8,426.92 in his campaign account. He raised $13,461.04 in contributions and miscellaneous receipts and spent $20,212.50, leaving him with $1,675.46 in his treasury. Maher, a Republican who lives in Walden, is running unopposed for re-election.
104th Assembly
Incumbent Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, D-Newburgh, started the reporting period with $172,460.68 in his campaign account. During the reporting period, he raised an additional $32,529.33 in contributions and miscellaneous receipts. According to the state Board of Elections, Jacobson spent $1,870.47 on his unopposed bid for re-election, leaving him with a campaign war chest of $203,119.54.
The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 5.