One Federal Primary election in New York is over. Another Federal Primary, which will help determine who runs for United States Senate and/or House of Representatives. It is tentatively schedule June 28. “Tentatively” because there is a question if one is really needed.

No democrat is challenging  Senator Chuck Schumer.  In the November election he will be on the Democratic, Working Families, and Independence Party lines. Wendy Long, who lost to Senator Gillibrand in 2012 by 46 points, has been nominated by the Republican Party. She will also be on the Conservative, and Reform Party lines. The Green Party has nominated Robin Laverne Wilson for the Senate.

Republicans may have to decide who their candidate will be to run for the NY-23rd’s Congressional seat. Rep. Tom Reed is being challenged by Gary L. Perry of Waverly to be the Republican Party’s nominee.  Both turned in their petitions by the April 14 deadline, but each candidates’ campaign may challenge their opponent’s petitions. House petitions need to have at least 1,250 legal signatures to qualify to run for office. Reed turned in 310 petition pages, and Perry turned in 191. The number of signatures on a petition can vary; fifteen signatures on a page is not uncommon. Candidates can also be disqualified on other technical grounds. If Reed is successful in disqualifying Perry’s petitions, there will not be a primary.

UPDATE: According to Channel 18 Elmira, Gary Perry,  did not have the required number of signatures to get on the June 28 ballot. If Channel 18 is correct there will NOT be a primary on June 28. As mentioned below, the State Board of Elections will let us know officially by May 5.

We should know if there will be a primary by May 5; the State Board of Elections needs to certify the ballot then. Reed also turned in petitions for the Conservative, Independence, and Reform Party lines, so if there is a primary in June, and he is defeated, he will still be on the General Election ballot on November 8.

John Plumb turned in 388 petitions pages to be the Democratic nominee. He is not being challenged.  He also turned in Working Families petitions.

In this election only registered Republican can vote.

Please note: There is another tentatively scheduled primary scheduled on September 13 for State and local races. To have a state primary there would need to be two or more republican or democratic candidates running for a state office such as Senator or Assembly. In other words, for the NY-23rd to have a state primary,  a democrat would run against Leslie Danks Burke or a republican would run against Sen. Tom O’Mara in the 58th Senatorial District; or in the 57th Senatorial District, a republican would oppose Sen. Cathy Young or a democrat would run against recently announce democrat Lee Hyson.  Either one of those scenarios are not expected. If any of the assembly representatives are challenged by a same party candidate there would be a primary.

Having a local election would also trigger a primary. There will be a primary in Yates County since there will be two republicans running to replace our retiring Supreme Court Judge. There may be others around the district. If one develops please notify the NewNY23rd.