Democratic Party of Syracuse undergoes a confrontation, according to Sharon Owens' statement
Syracuse's Democratic Designee Aims for Victory in General Election
Sharon Owens, the winner of the Democratic primary for Syracuse mayor with over 60% of the vote, is gearing up for the general election, aiming to become the city's first Black mayor and only the second woman to lead Syracuse.
Owens, who is also the designee for the Working Families Party, secured her victory despite not receiving the endorsement of the Syracuse Democratic Committee in the primary. The committee had also not endorsed the candidate who ran against incumbent Ben Walsh in the previous election.
In the 2025 Democratic primary, the committee endorsed Common Councilor Pat Hogan, who lost to Owens. The reasons for the 2021 endorsement remain unclear, but the party's backing of Hogan in 2025 suggests internal party dynamics or strategic decisions might be involved.
Despite not receiving the party's endorsement, Owens' strong support among Democratic voters was evident in the primary. Her campaign strategy during petitioning focused on reaching out to independent and unaffiliated voters.
Owens' opponents in the primary had focused on criticizing the administration, but her campaign platform emphasizes addressing the needs of the community rather than criticism. This approach seems to have resonated with voters, as she won with a 40% margin, indicating that criticism of her affiliation with the administration did not significantly impact her support.
Owens' legacy is not in governmental work but in not-for-profit work on the ground with people in the community. She worked for independent Mayor Ben Walsh, but ran for mayor as a Democrat.
In the general election, Owens will face three other candidates, including two independents. Syracuse has had an independent as mayor for the last two terms, beating Democratic candidates.
Owens is confident of her chances in the general election and is having meetings with Democratic leadership and other party members to work towards unity within the party. She hopes to act as a catalyst to bring Democrats together.
City & State spoke with Owens during a Working Families Party event to ask about her campaign, plans for the local party, and what she hopes to see from Gov. Kathy Hochul ahead of the general election. The conversation provides insights into Owens' vision for Syracuse and her commitment to working for the community.
For those interested in the historical data or specific reasoning from the 2021 primary, local news archives or direct contact with the Syracuse Democratic Party may provide more detailed insights.
- Sharon Owens, the Democratic designee, aims to win the general election, hoping to become Syracuse's first Black mayor and the second woman to lead the city.
- Owens' focus during the primary was on reaching out to independent and unaffiliated voters, despite not receiving the endorsement of the Syracuse Democratic Committee.
- In the general news, war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, accidents, fires, migration, and policy-and-legislation aren't the primary concerns of Owens' campaign platform, but they may be addressed as needs of the community arise.
- Owens is confident of her chances in the general election, meeting with Democratic leadership and party members to foster unity within the party and act as a catalyst for Democrats in Syracuse.
