The New York state Legislature has a slew of open seats, lawmakers seeking higher offices and challengers primarying incumbents this election cycle.

With a governor’s race atop the ticket, Democrats aiming to regain their supermajority status in the fall and Republicans aiming to chip away at the Assembly majority, the outcome of the June primaries could be decisive for business in Albany in the coming years.

Early voting is ongoing and Primary Election Day is Tuesday. The winners of the primaries will go on to face each other in the November general election. Here are the races in upstate New York that you’ll want to keep an eye on.

State Assemblyman Jon Rivera, left, and state Sen. Jeremy Zellner, right, are running against each other in the Democratic primary race for New York’s 61st state Senate District. (Spectrum News 1 graphic)

61st state Senate District Democratic primary

A seat in Western New York is not only seeing a primary contest between two current state lawmakers, it is also a rematch of sorts.

Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Zellner is seeking a full term. He won a special election for the seat in February to replace Sean Ryan, who was elected mayor of Buffalo back in November.

Zellner wasn’t the only Democrat who was interested, however. State Assemblyman Jonathan Rivera also sought the local Democratic committee’s backing for that special election. Zellner, the Erie County Democratic Committee chairman at the time, was designated the party nominee for the special election, but Rivera vowed to run again in the June primary.

Rivera has been in the Assembly since 2021.

The 61st Senate District includes parts of Erie County, covering Buffalo, Amherst, Grand Island, Kenmore, Williamsville and the town and city of Tonawanda. It is a heavy Democratic-leaning district so the outcome of the primary will be critical to November’s results.

Maurice “Mo” Brown, left, and Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, right, are the Democratic candidates running in New York’s 129th state Assembly District. (Spectrum News 1 graphic)

129th state Assembly District Democratic primary

While many 20-plus-year veterans of the Assembly are retiring this year, one of them is facing a rare primary challenge.

Bill Magnarelli, in Central New York’s 129th Assembly District, was first elected to the state’s lower chamber in 1998. He serves as chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee.

He is being challenged by progressive Onondaga County Legislator Maurice “Mo” Brown.

It’s a classic primary contest of experience versus freshness. Magnarelli is touting his 28 years on the job and said that time produces results while Brown, in the county legislature for three years, says he can bring something new to the table.

There is no Republican candidate in the race and Magnarelli has not faced a Republican opponent in a general election since 2020.

The 129th Assembly District includes parts of the city of Syracuse, the town of Geddes, the town of Van Buren and part of the village of Baldwinsville.

Democrats Dan Livingston, left, and Dan Norton, right, are racing for the nomination for New York’s 123rd state Assembly Seat, which covers Broome County. (Spectrum News graphic)

123rd state Assembly District Democratic primary

While Magnarelli fights on, longtime incumbent Donna Lupardo decided not run for reelection in the Southern Tier’s 123rd District after 20 years in office.

Lupardo instantly endorsed Binghamton attorney Dan Norton to be her successor. Norton is an Endwell native and partner at the law firm Hinman, Howard & Kattel. He previously served as president of the Broome County Bar Association. Norton has the support of Broome County Executive Jason Garnar and Planned Parenthood.

But Norton faces a challenge from another Dan — Dan Livingston. 

Livingston, a progressive candidate, is a former Binghamton City Council member, a champion of cannabis legislation and an advocate for his community who once experienced homelessness. His endorsements include U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a local chapter of the Sierra Club and Citizen Action of New York.

Broome County has shifted from a reliably Democratic county to more purple since the time Lupardo first came into office. Local Republicans might see an opportunity to flip the seat for their candidate, small business owner and community advocate Lynn Parker, who either Norton or Livingston will face in the fall.

The 123rd state Assembly District includes the city of Binghamton and the towns of Vestal and Union.

In the Democratic primary for the 149th Assembly District, tenants’ rights attorney Adam Bojak (left) is taking on M&T Bank businessman Kevin Deese (center) and Karen Hoak, a deputy commissioner of highways for Erie County DPW (right). (Spectrum News 1 graphic)

149th state Assembly District Democratic primary

Back over in western New York, a three-way battle has emerged to replace the aforementioned Jonathan Rivera as he seeks a state Senate seat.

Those hoping to win the nomination are Karen Hoak, a deputy commissioner of highways for Erie County Department of Public Works; Adam Bojak, a tenants’ rights attorney; and Kevin Deese, an M&T Bank businessman.

The race has proven to be an intra-party proxy battle of the one between Zellner and Rivera for the upper chamber. Hoak is supported by the Erie County Democratic Committee, while Bojak, a Democratic socialist, is backed by Rivera.

Meanwhile, Deese said he’s happy to stay out of that fight and that he gets along well with both factions of the party.

The victor will face Hamburg town board member Frank Bogulski on the Republican line in November.

The 149th district includes parts of the cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna, the town of Hamburg, the villages of Blasdell and Hamburg and the hamlet of Lake View.

Chanda King, left, Charles Potter, center, and Heather Scribner, right, are the Republican candidates running in the primary for New York’s 118th state Assembly District. (Spectrum News 1)

118th state Assembly Republican primary

Speaking of three-way races, the Republicans have one to the east, in the 118th Assembly District. It’s another open seat, being vacated by Robert Smullen, who is running for Congress in Rep. Elise Stefanik’s seat.

The contest to replace Smullen in the sprawling and largely rural district is between Heather Scribner, Charles Potter and Chanda King. 

Scribner is the current Fulton County treasurer, a former town clerk, and worked as an administrative assistant in the state Senate in 1998 under then-Majority Leader Joe Bruno. Potter has served as a Fulton County supervisor for more than 14 years and previously worked as the director of constituent services for state Sen. Mark Walczyk.

Having no prior government experience, King says, is what sets her apart. She has been involved in politics though, as she has been involved with Turning Point USA and helped get candidates elected at the local level.

The winner will face Democratic challenger Colleen Maxwell in November.

The 118th District is made up of parts of Herkimer, Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery, Oneida and Otsego counties.

Early voting runs through Sunday, June 21. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 23.

See the races that’ll be on your ballot with our Voter Guide.