And They’re Off! Preview of the Saratoga County Primary Elections

In the break between Belmont and the normal Saratoga racing season, Saratoga County residents will have a different type of horse race to watch: the primary elections.

Of the over 100 offices up for election in November in Saratoga County, only five of them have a primary challenge. Here is a rundown of the elections and candidates in your backyard. 

Saratoga Springs 

While seven local positions in Saratoga Springs are on the ballot in November, only one has a primary challenge. Commissioner of Accounts Dillion Moran is facing a primary challenge from Joseph Levy for the Working Families Party nomination. 

Moran was endorsed by the Working Families Party along with fellow Saratoga Springs candidates Minita Sanghvi and Shafer Gaston — who aren’t facing a primary challenge in this election. 

Moran was elected in 2019 and hasn’t faced a primary challenge since then. He and Levy addressed voters in a recent forum held virtually by the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County. In the forum, Moran focused on his efforts since he assumed office, while Levy focused on the legislative issues he would push as a member of city council. 

Town of Ballston

Republican voters in the town of Ballston will decide who they want to be their supervisor. In Ballston, incumbent Eric Connolly is facing a primary challenge from former Ballston Town Councilman John Antoski. Connolly has been endorsed by the Ballston Republican Committee, according to their Facebook. 

Connolly was elected in 2019 and hasn’t faced a challenger in the primary or general election since. At the time, he beat fellow Republican Timothy Szczepaniak in both the primary and General elections. 

Antoski is far from a newcomer in this election. He first ran for town council back in 2009 but lost. He ran again in 2013 and served until 2021. 

Town of Greenfield 

It’s a three-way fight for the Republican nod in the Town of Greenfield. Their supervisor’s race features incumbent Kevin Veitch against challengers Micheal Gyarmathy and Daniel Cochran. 

Veitch first ran for the position in 2021 and has yet to face an opponent in a primary or general election. Prior to being elected supervisor, Veitch was on Town Council for four years. He has been endorsed by State Senator James Tedisco, Assemblyman Matt Simpson, Saratoga County Clerk Craig Hayner and the Saratoga County Conservative Party. 

Cochran and Gyarmathy, meanwhile, both have experience in Greenfield politics. Gyarmathy currently serves as a member of the Town Council in Greenfield but is not running for reelection to run for supervisor. Cochran meanwhile served for 12 years on the town council — among other positions within the town council. 

In a forum held virtually by the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County, both challengers focused on government transparency and zoning issues within the town. Supervisor Veitch didn’t participate in the forum. 

Elsewhere in the county 

Outside of Saratoga Springs and adjacent towns, there are two elections taking place. To the north in Hadley, incumbents James Brewster and Tina Ladd are on the ballot in the Republican primary against challengers Freemont Young and Cecil Hayes. Meanwhile to the west in Providence, Randy Hunter and David Winney are running in the Republican primary for Highway Superintendent. 

New York is a closed primary state — meaning you must register with a given party to vote in their primary. Election Day is Jun. 24. Voters can find their polling place on the Saratoga County Board of Elections website.

Those looking to vote early can go to the Board of Elections office at 50 W. High Street in Ballston Spa or at the Saratoga Springs Rec Center at 15 Vanderbilt Ave. Early voting goes until Sunday Jun. 22.