2 candidates are tracked for New York Senate District 48 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Rachel May and Richard McCarron Jr. Candidate information follows official Cayuga County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Rachel May (Democratic; also on the Working Families line), Richard McCarron Jr (Republican; also on the Conservative line) are on the November 3 ballot for New York Senate District 48; Rachel May is the sitting member, per the State Senate's member directory. Party nominees were chosen at the June 23 primary or by party designation; independent bodies qualified by petition. The field is the State Board of Elections' amended certification for the general election (September 4, 2026); under fusion voting one person may appear on several ballot lines. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.
This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Rachel May, is on the ballot.
New York › Cayuga County › New York Senate District 48
Democratic Incumbent
Rachel May is the Democratic incumbent for Senate District 48. They were a professor of Russian language and literature at Stony Brook University and director of sustainability education at Syracuse University before entering office, per the New York State Senate. They moved to Syracuse in 2001 and are currently serving their fourth term in the Senate, per the New York State Senate. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Republican
Per the campaign site.
Richard McCarron Jr, who goes by Rich McCarron, is the Republican nominee for Senate District 48. They were born in Brooklyn and have lived in Central New York for more than three decades, serving in the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office for more than 20 years, per their campaign site. They were appointed to the Onondaga County Legislature's 11th district in 2023 and later became a Realtor and small business owner, per their campaign site.
Who is running for New York Senate District 48 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for New York Senate District 48 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Rachel May and Richard McCarron Jr. Candidate information follows official Cayuga County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the New York Senate District 48 election in New York?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New York are on the New York election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Cayuga County ballot?
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Candidate roster from official Cayuga County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
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