Election Day Preview: 

Meet the Candidates Running in the 44th District of the New York State Senate 

Saratoga County is comprised of four assembly districts, two congressional districts, numerous towns and villages but only one state senate district — the 44th — which it shares with the Town of Niskayuna and the City of Schenectady. 

In this race, incumbent longtime legislator Republican James Tedisco is facing a challenge from Democrat Sarah Rogerson. Here are their pre-election day statements submitted to Saratoga TODAY.

Sarah Rogerson (Democrat, Working Families Party)

“When you love something, you fight for it. I love this district, and that’s why I’m running to be your State Senator.

It’s time for new representation that does more: someone who listens, shows up, and fights for you. We deserve a State Senator who cuts red tape and ribbons — one who uses the levers of power to fight for this district, not just takes potshots from the sidelines.

We all know the issues. Prices skyrocket while wages stagnate. Paying for healthcare has become a luxury, while private equity and mega-corporations are buying up and hollowing out the local providers we rely on for everything from vet care to craft supplies to cardiology.

I’m a hockey mom and a public-interest lawyer. I shop in the same grocery stores and use the same healthcare systems you do — and like you, I set my thermostat with a chill, thinking about what that next bill will look like.

My work is fighting for people the system screwed over or left out, and I’ll be honest with you: when I fight, I win. I’ll fight rising utility bills by only voting to confirm Public Service Commission nominees committed to freezing or lowering rates, ban restrictive noncompetes that keep local cardiologists from treating patients, and increase AIM funding to support small businesses and strengthen local economies without shifting the cost onto residents.

These are the fights this district needs new blood for.

  My dad was a pastor, and my mom was a nurse. I lost them both this past year, and I think about how they built their lives around caring for people and doing what’s right, regardless of sacrifice. That’s the torch I carry, and the kind of leader I intend to be.”

James Tedisco Incumbent  (Republican, Conservative, Vote Affordable)

I want to thank you, the voters, who have given me the greatest endorsement I can ever have – the honor of serving as your Senator.

Whether it’s taking on Governor Hochul, writing the bipartisan “Utility Ratepayer Protection Act” to reign-in out of control utility bills, fighting to make our state more affordable by doubling STAR property tax relief for families and seniors, or passing a new law to enable park rangers to carry life-saving EpiPens, and passing Buster’s Law to protect our pets and people, I believe I’ve proven my ability to get things done against overwhelming odds. 

Right now, all levers of power in New York are under total domination by one affiliation pushing a radical pro-criminal and pro-tax and spend agenda that has caused our beautiful state to lead the nation in outmigration.  According to a recent study, someone leaves New York for a more affordable state every 2 minutes and 23 seconds. Sadly, New York is at the top for outmigration.

That’s an indictment of the agenda that’s been implemented by the Governor and one-party rule in the legislature for the past eight years!

The residents of Saratoga County and the entire 44th Senate District simply cannot afford another vote for Governor Hochul and her failed agenda.

A great indicator of my success as your elected representative is the fact that I’ve been re-elected over and over again by overwhelming margins by the most important part of our representative democracy – you the voters.

On Election Day, I’d be honored to again have your vote!