Democratic Party in Syracuse undergoes a critical review, according to Sharon Owens' statement
Sharon Owens Aims to Unite Syracuse Democratic Party Ahead of General Election
Sharon Owens, the designee for the Democratic line in the Syracuse mayor election, was recently interviewed during a Working Families Party event. The discussion focused on her campaign, plans for the local party, and her expectations from Gov. Kathy Hochul ahead of the general election.
Despite the Syracuse Democratic Party backing one of her opponents in the Democratic primary for mayor, Owens emerged victorious, besting the Democratic candidate in both 2017 and 2021 as an independent. This year, she secured over 60% of the vote in June 2025, a resounding victory that marked the third consecutive cycle in which the local party's endorsement did not result in a primary win.
Owens, who ran as a Democrat but has worked with independent Mayor Ben Walsh, is now focused on bridging divides and working with the party. She aims to act as a catalyst to unite both sides within the Syracuse Democratic Party and has started meetings with Democratic leadership and other party members to achieve this goal.
Owens' plans for the city include a focus on partnership and practical governance. She emphasises investing in local workers and training the next generation of skilled tradespeople as part of her campaign priorities. If she wins the general election, she will become the first Black mayor of Syracuse and only the second woman to lead the city.
The Syracuse Democratic Committee's process for identifying a candidate appears to differ from the preferences of the voters. There are now two independents running in the general election for Syracuse mayor, and Owens is confident that she will succeed despite having three other candidates on the ballot.
Interestingly, two Democrats are trying to get on the ballot as independents for the Syracuse mayor election. This reflects the ongoing local political dynamics where independents have won in the past two terms.
The Syracuse Democratic Committee did not endorse the candidate who ran against Ben Walsh in the previous election, and they did not endorse the candidate who ran for mayor in the year before the last election. This pattern of non-endorsement of winning candidates suggests ongoing local factional challenges.
In conclusion, Sharon Owens' primary win and subsequent efforts to work inclusively with the Syracuse Democratic Party signal a shift in local politics. Her focus on uniting Democratic voters and her commitment to practical governance offer hope for a more inclusive and effective leadership in Syracuse.
- Sharon Owens' strives to bridge the divide within the Syracuse Democratic Party, aiming to foster unity through meetings with Democratic leadership and party members, as she anticipates the general election amidst policy-and-legislation discussions and politics-related news.
- The upcoming general election in Syracuse, including Owens' race for mayor, will witness a surge in general-news coverage, given the shift in local politics, the party-independent dynamics, and Owens' commitment to include the Democratic Party in her practical governance, creating a novel intersection of politics, policy, and news.
