Editor’s Note: Throughout the night we’ll be providing updates to this story as outcomes of races across the region become unofficially final.
In Tuesday’s election, New York voters passed Proposition 1, the Equal Rights Amendment, enshrining abortion rights and anti-discrimination protections in the state constitution.
This amendment, now part of New York’s foundational law, prohibits discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, gender, and more, ensuring equal protection under the law.
Supporters, including the New York Civil Liberties Union, championed Prop 1 as a significant step for reproductive freedom and human rights, while opponents argued it could undermine parental authority. New York joins states like Connecticut and Massachusetts with similar constitutional protections, while other states have yet to adopt such measures.
In other competitive races:
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand won another 6-year term. She handily defeated Republican Mike Sapraicone.
- Democrat John Mannion has unseated Incumbent Republican Rep. Brandon Williams in New York’s 22nd Congressional District, a key win that could tip the balance of Congress toward Democratic control. Mannion, who led with 51.91% of the vote against Williams’ 45.27%, emphasized abortion rights as his primary campaign issue, pledging to restore protections lost after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. “I’m incredibly honored to represent the people of Central New York and look forward to fighting for their rights and priorities in Congress,” Mannion said.
- New York State Senator Pam Helming won re-election, securing her fifth term representing Senate District 54. “I am incredibly honored and grateful for the trust the people of Senate District 54 have placed in me once again,” Sen. Helming said in her victory speech. “Representing our community is a privilege I do not take lightly. I’m eager to continue fighting for the issues that matter most to our families, businesses, and local economies.”
- In other local races, Claudia Tenney, the Republican who represents the 24th Congressional District, will win re-election. Democrat Rachel May in state Senate’s 48th District will also win re-election along with Assemblyman Brian Manktelow in Assembly District 130.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].
