Herkimer County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
10 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 5 Herkimer County races, led by the New York Supreme Court Justice, 5th Judicial District contest.
Judges
New York Supreme Court Justice, 5th Judicial DistrictJoseph Zavaglia (D) · Michael J. Manfredi (R)
Joseph Zavaglia (Democratic, Working Families) and Michael J. Manfredi (Republican, Conservative) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for New York Supreme Court Justice, 5th Judicial District.
Joseph Zavaglia Democratic, Working Families
Joseph Zavaglia is a sitting Onondaga County Family Court Judge, elected in November 2023, per his campaign site. He also serves as Village Justice in East Syracuse and was the first Family Court judge appointed to the county's Youth Part.
Michael J. Manfredi Republican, Conservative
- Making decisions grounded in law and facts, without bias or political considerations
- Protecting constitutional principles and ensuring justice is accessible and equal for every citizen
Per the campaign site.
About Michael J. Manfredi
Michael J. Manfredi is Grand Jury Bureau Chief and Felony Trial Bureau Chief at the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, where he has worked since 2007, per his campaign site. He holds a law degree from the University at Buffalo.
Voters choose one justice. Supreme Court justices are elected by judicial district; the 5th Judicial District covers Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego counties, so this race is on every ballot there. Names and party lines follow the State Board of Elections certification for the November 3, 2026 ballot; a name listed on more than one party line is one candidate.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Herkimer County is split across 4 New York Senate and Assembly districts.
Find your districts by addressNew York Senate: 2 districtsDistricts 49, 53
New York Senate District 49Cassie L. Robbins-Forbus (D) · Mark C. Walczyk (R)
Cassie L. Robbins-Forbus Democratic
Cassie Robbins-Forbus is the Democratic nominee for Senate District 49. They are a grant writer for Samaritan Medical Center and chair of the Lewis County Democratic Committee, per CNY Homepage. They have taught Spanish at Lowville Academy and worked as a training coordinator, and have served as executive director of local nonprofits, per CNY Homepage. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Mark C. Walczyk Republican Incumbent
Mark Walczyk is the Republican incumbent for Senate District 49. They worked as a staff member for then-State Senator Patty Ritchie in 2011 and served on the Watertown City Council from 2015 to 2018, per the New York State Senate. They were elected to the Assembly in 2018 and are a graduate of the University at Albany, per the New York State Senate. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Cassie L. Robbins-Forbus (Democratic; also on the Working Families line), Mark C. Walczyk (Republican; also on the Conservative line) are on the November 3 ballot for New York Senate District 49; Mark C. Walczyk 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.
Full race pageNew York Senate District 53Mandi Drake (D) · Joseph A. Griffo (R)
Mandi Drake Democratic
- Focuses on supporting workers and addressing affordability concerns facing New Yorkers, including housing and cost of living challenges
Per the campaign site.
About Mandi Drake
Mandi Drake is the Democratic nominee for Senate District 53. They are an art educator and local small business owner and a lifelong resident of the Mohawk Valley, per their campaign site.
Joseph A. Griffo Republican Incumbent
Joseph Griffo is the Republican incumbent for Senate District 53. They served as County Executive of Oneida County from 2003 to 2006 and as a three term Mayor of Rome beginning in 1991, per the New York State Senate. They have served in the State Senate since 2007, per the New York State Senate. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Mandi Drake (Democratic; also on the Working Families line), Joseph A. Griffo (Republican; also on the Conservative line) are on the November 3 ballot for New York Senate District 53; Joseph A. Griffo 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.
Full race pageNew York Assembly: 2 districtsDistricts 118, 122
New York Assembly District 118Colleen Maxwell (D) · Heather A. Scribner (R)
Colleen Maxwell Democratic
- Property tax and affordability relief for rural communities
- Flexibility for rural school districts under the state's electric school bus and building electrification mandates
- Protecting farmland from large-scale solar siting
Per the campaign site.
About Colleen Maxwell
Colleen Maxwell is a former West Canada School Board member and Newport Planning Board member running for New York State Assembly District 118, per her campaign site. She grew up on a family dairy farm in Newport and has worked as an accountant, per her campaign site.
Heather A. Scribner Republican
Heather A. Scribner is the Republican and Conservative nominee for the 118th Assembly District, per WAMC. She serves as Fulton County Treasurer, per WAMC. No further biographical detail was found on her campaign site as of September 20, 2026.
Colleen Maxwell (Democratic), Heather A. Scribner (Republican; also on the Conservative line) are on the November 3 ballot for New York Assembly District 118. Not on the November ballot: Robert Smullen, the sitting member per the roster. 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.
Full race pageNew York Assembly District 122Ihor Semko (D) · Brian D. Miller (R)
Ihor Semko Democratic
- supports addressing affordability and rising property taxes
- supports local workers and small businesses
- supports expanding healthcare access
Per the campaign site.
About Ihor Semko
Ihor Semko is running for the 122nd Assembly District, per his campaign site. He was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States at age 8, per the site. He was the first in his family to earn a U.S. college degree, attending Herkimer County Community College and Utica University and earning an MBA, per the site, and previously served as Head of Human Resources at a manufacturing plant near Syracuse, per the site.
Brian D. Miller Republican Incumbent
- Tax relief
- Investment in statewide infrastructure, including roads, bridges and sewer systems
- Full funding of school districts
Per the campaign site.
About Brian D. Miller
Brian D. Miller is the incumbent New York Assembly member for the 122nd District, per nyassembly.gov. Before his time in the Assembly, he spent more than 36 years as a mechanical engineer while also working as an apple grower, and he served eight years as Bridgewater Town Supervisor and 16 years on the Oneida County Legislature, per his campaign site. He serves as Chairman of the Assembly Minority Steering Committee, per his campaign site.
Ihor Semko (Democratic; also on the Working Families line), Brian D. Miller (Republican; also on the Conservative line) are on the November 3 ballot for New York Assembly District 122; Brian D. Miller is the sitting member, per the Assembly'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.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
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Who is on the ballot in Herkimer County, New York on November 3, 2026?
Herkimer County sample ballot 2026: see where the new york supreme court justice, new york assembly and new york senate candidates stand on housing and taxes. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in New York?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New York are listed on the New York election hub. New York election hub →
How do I see my exact Herkimer County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →