Republicans and Democrats in Broome County will interview a slate of candidates in the coming weeks to decide who could best replace outgoing Assemblymember Donna Lupardo, who has held the seat for over two decades.

Lupardo, who represents a part of the Southern Tier, has announced Thursday she will not seek reelection in November. For 22 years, the Democrat has represented Broome County in the 123rd Assembly District, which includes the city of Binghamton and the towns of Vestal and Union.

Lupardo, 71, told Spectrum News 1 on Friday that after 11 terms, it’s time for her to slow down.

“That’s just my personal preference to just take it a little bit easier,” she said. “All of my friends are retired and they’ve been begging me to slow down a little bit. But I’m not going away, that’s for sure.”

Lupardo said she plans to return to SUNY Binghamton to teach and work with community nonprofits.

But first, she has another year in Albany to get bills across the finish line — like measures to stabilize local EMS struggling to stay afloat.

Lupardo, who chairs the Assembly Agriculture Committee, said she wants to create a compromise to protect farmland from being used for green energy projects like solar before leaving office.

“A top issue in agriculture right now is how can we protect prime farmland, but also develop solar to meet our goals at the same time,” she said. “But it doesn’t help us if we lose that land. It’s precious.” 

Lupardo is a moderate upstate Democrat with supporters across the aisle, but Broome County has shifted from a reliably Democratic county to more purple since the mid-2000s when she was first elected.

Multiple Democrats have announced their candidacy, including Binghamton attorney Dan Norton, former Binghamton city council member Dan Livingston and Nick Libous — son of former state Sen. Tom Libous.

In a statement, Broome County Democratic Committee chair Sarah Dinhofer said Lupardo has big shoes to fill, and the committee will ensure the next candidate to hold the seat reflects her legacy and will commit to better the lives of all Broome County residents.

Lupardo, nor county Democratic leaders, would say Friday which candidate they want to replace her.

Broome County Republicans were quick to begin strategizing how to take the seat back — starting hours after Lupardo announced her retirement. 

Broome County Republican Committee chair Benji Federman wishes Lupardo well, and said she’s well-respected, but it’s time for change in Albany.

“In the Southern Tier, we are starved for economic development, change in energy policy,” he said. “And so that is not going to change with electing another Democrat.”

Federman said the Broome GOP will interview prospective candidates in the coming weeks, but plan to coalesce around one person to unify the party.  

“I’m already hearing that there’s three Democrat challengers who want to seek that office, and so I’m anticipating a hopefully contentious primary for the Democrats,” he said.

Federman declined to discuss potential candidates. 

Multiple sources said possible Republican nominees include Endicott Mayor Nick Burlingame, recently-elected Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham or an area law enforcement official.

But Lupardo said she doesn’t think Broome County residents will elect a Republican candidate amid chaos in Washington, adding her constituents are more driven by personal values and fairness than party.

“They want to have somebody with integrity, who’s smart, who has experience and will make fair decisions that benefit everybody,” the departing assemblywoman said.