Whitesboro, NYPublished •Verified 2026-10-28
Whitesboro Forum: Oneida County Candidates for Congress, State Senate, Assembly, Sheriff and Clerk Make Their Case
Why it matters here
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and these are the races on most Utica-area ballots, from Congress down to the county sheriff and clerk.

Candidates in the area's top Nov. 3 races laid out priorities Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Hart's Hill Inn in Whitesboro, at a forum run by the Genesis Group and the Chamber Alliance of the Mohawk Valley, the Rome Sentinel reported.
| Race | Candidates | Their main themes |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. House, NY-22 | John Mannion (D, incumbent); Kailee Buller (R) | Mannion: constituent help, project funding, bipartisan bills. Buller: affordability, lower taxes and spending, broad energy mix |
| State Senate 53 | Joseph Griffo (R, incumbent); Mandi Drake (D) | Griffo: 2% state spending cap, pause on state mandates. Drake: affordability, single-payer health care, utility oversight |
| Assembly 119 | Mike Gentile (R); Jon Lipe (D) | Gentile: workforce development. Lipe: energy bills, health care costs |
| Assembly 122 | Brian Miller (R, incumbent); Ihor Semko (D) | Miller: committee experience. Semko: costs for seniors, small businesses, young families |
| County Sheriff | Robert Maciol (D, incumbent); Jared Pearl (R) | Maciol: school resource officers. Pearl: law enforcement background, first run |
| County Clerk | Mary Finegan (incumbent); Michael Brown (D) | Finegan: mobile passports, DMV online queue. Brown: mobile service, shorter waits |
Check your district and polling place with the Oneida County Board of Elections.
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Coming up
- Rome· Shopping $5; opening gala $30 ($25 each for two or more); Ladies Night $15Holiday House 2026 at the Carpenter Center in Rome, Nov. 13–22: Gala, Ladies Night & Weekend Shopping
- Utica· FreeVictorian Groove-tide: Munson's '60s Holiday Show at Fountain Elms in Utica, Nov. 13–Jan. 3
- Herkimer· Not published; tickets sold on EventbriteHerkimer Originals 2026–27 Home Games at DNA Evolution, East Herkimer: Next Up Sat., Nov. 14, 3 p.m.