News Blog

Local and state election petitions are in — mostly — and Rochester-area voters may have a few primary races.

The candidates who received their party's backing earlier this year don't have to worry about petitions. But the candidates who want to challenge them on those lines do. They have to collect signatures from people in their party, and those signatures have to withstand the inevitable challenges from opponents.
At the state level, a few different people have filed to challenge Governor Andrew Cuomo in the September primary. The most notable is Zephyr Teachout, a professor at Fordham University's School of Law. Her name doesn't show up on the state Board of Elections unofficial list yet, but that might be because she planned to mail out her petitions before last night's deadline.

Likewise, a primary is looming in the lieutenant governor race. Cuomo's ticket-mate, Kathy Hochul, could face a challenge from Teachout's ticket-mate, Tim Wu. A third candidate, Nenand Bach, has also filed to run.

Republican Rob Astorino and Green Party member Howie Hawkins have also filed to run for governor.

As a result of other filings:

• Democratic Assembly member David Gantt could face a primary challenge from Ann Lewis, a retired teacher who has previously run for City Council and County Legislature;
  
• Republican State Senator George Maziarz could face a Republican and Conservative primary from Holley-area resident and political activist Gia Arnold;
  
• Republican Assembly member Mark Johns could face a primary challenge from Calvin Frelier;
  
• Democratic County Legislator Leslie Rivera, who represents the 29th District, could face a primary challenge from Ernest Flagler, who's previously run for city school board;
  
• Three Democrats could fight it out for a City Court judge position. William Gargan received the county committee's backing during its May convention, but Leticia Astacio and Michael Lopez have filed to challenge him.
  

A rundown of the petition filings and the status of challenges is available at http://www2.monroecounty.gov/elections-candidate.php.