Election ’24: Familiar Faces Return to Represent Saratoga County

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Several political leaders familiar to area residents respectively secured newly elected terms this week. 

In races specific to Saratoga, incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D, WF) defeated challenger Kevin Waltz (R,C) in the 20th Congressional District – which represents the majority of Saratoga County, and more than 140,000 county voters. Tonko was elected to the U.S. House in 2008 to represent District 21, which he served to 2013, and since 2013 has representing New York’s 20th Congressional District. Tonko secured the majority of votes both – in the overall multi-county district (58.6% – 37.7%), and among Saratoga County voters (53.5% – 43.1%). 

Newly redistricted this year, the 21st Congressional District represents northern Saratoga County and the northeastern edge of the county (more than 40,000 voters), which includes including the towns of Saratoga, Greenfield and Moreau, among others in their entirety, as well as a portion of Wilton.     

In the 21st District Elise Stefanik (R,C) secured her sixth term in a victory over challenger Paula Collins (D,WF), emerging victorious in both the overall district (60.3% – 36.5%), and among Saratoga County voters (57.3% – 39.8%).     

Incumbent State Sen. James Tedisco (R,C) was re-elected to the 44th District over challenger Minita Sanghvi (D,WF) 56.1% to 40.2% . Sanghvi is currently city Finance Commissioner and member of the City Council in Saratoga Springs. 

Incumbent Democratic Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner was re-elected to the 113th District, by defeating Jeremy Messina (R,C), and Republican Mary Beth Walsh, of the 112th Assembly District, bested Democrat Joe Seeman.  

Interim County Treasurer JoAnn Kupferman (R) was elected to a full term, defeating longtime city Finance Commissioner and current Saratoga Springs Supervisor Michele Madigan (D) 56 – 43 in the Saratoga County Treasurer race.  

More than 125,000 – nearly 70% of Saratoga County’s registered voters – cast a ballot in the 2024 election.  

Donald Trump secured a second term as U.S. President.  Overall in New York State, Kamala Harris/ Tim Walz (D, WF) received more than one million votes more than Donald Trump/ JD Vance (R,C) in the Presidential race  (54.65% to 43.25%).

The Harris/Walz ticket garnered a slight majority of the votes – 49.71% to 48.49% – among Saratoga County voters, a difference of just over 1,500 votes.  

In the race for U.S. Senator, incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand (D, WF) defeated challengers Michael Sapraicone (R,C) and independent candidate Diane Sare. 

Saratoga County sited six polling locations for nine days of Early Voting. Early voting accounted for one-third of all ballots cast in Saratoga County for the 2024 election.  

Note, all tallies are unofficial results and likely to change. The deadlines for the Board of Elections to receive absentee/ early mail ballots by mail is Nov. 12 and military/ special federal by mail is Nov. 18. Official Election results are anticipated Nov. 30, and Election certification on Dec. 9, according to the Saratoga County Board of Elections.                           

Saratoga County by The Numbers

Total Registered voters: 181,203. 

Total Votes 2024: 125,688.

Saratoga County ranks 16th highest of NY State’s 62 counties in number of active registered voters.   

By Party: Republican (35.3%), Democratic (29.4%),
No Party (29.0%), Independent & all others (6.3%). 

Presidential Race: Harris/Walz – 63,852 votes (49.71%),
to Trump/Vance 62,278 votes (48.49%). 

Previously – 2016: Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton (54,575-50,913). 2020: Joe Biden over Donald Trump (68,471-61,305).   

Ballots Cast – Early Voting: just over 41,700.
Election Day: just over 83,900.