Former Aburn School Board president Ian Phillips announced he will be running for Assembly in New York’s 126th District as a Democrat, potentially leading to a repeat matchup of 2024’s race.
The announcement came just days after three-term incumbent Assemblyman John Lemondes dropped out of the race for Congress in New York’s 22nd District. Lemondes, a Republican, instead chose to run for reelection.
Lemondes’s decision to drop out of the congressional race leaves Republicans without a candidate to oppose the current Democratic Rep. John Mannion.
The shakeup sets up a Republican primary this June. Republican David Knapp, an Onondaga County legislator, said he would be running for 126th Assembly District seat.
Phillips and Lemondes squared off for the state Assembly seat in 2024, with Lemondes securing his third term by more than 7,000 votes.