Ryan holds razor-thin lead over Paro in NY Senate race likely headed for recount — again

Democrat Chris Ryan led Republican Nick Paro by 548 votes out of more than 159,000 cast in the race for the open seat in New York’s 50th Senate District, with absentee ballots still outstanding.
The close margin means it’s likely there will be a recount in this race for the second election cycle in a row.
Ryan addressed a few dozen people still left at Harvey’s Garden around midnight. He told them his lead was likely going to be within the margin that will trigger an automatic recount.
“But I’m really, really, optimistic,” he said. “I’m really, really looking forward to keeping this seat and I’m looking forward to representing the 50th District in the New York State Senate.”
“We knew it was going to be tough district,” he told reporters a few minutes later. “We’re proud of the campaign we ran.”

Paro, in a statement, said the race was too close to call.
“The margin separating us from our opponent lies well within the 0.5% margin necessitating an automatic recount,” he said.
Paro said he has the “utmost trust” in the board of elections to ensure that every ballot is counted through a “smooth” process.
“I want to thank every resident of our senate district who came out to vote,” Paro said. “Your voice is important and deserves to be heard. No vote will be left uncounted, and your choice for state senator will be sworn into office in January.”
Ryan, 52, of Geddes, has been an Onondaga County legislator since 2011. His fellow Democrats elected him minority floor leader 2022. He is president of the Communications Workers of America, Local 1123.
The seat has an enrollment advantage for Republicans and Albany party leaders identified it early on as a potential flip to break up the Democratic supermajority that allows the Senate and Assembly to override the governor’s vetoes.
Sen. John Mannion, who did not seek reelection and instead ran for Congress, won the seat by just 10 votes two years ago. Until Mannion won the seat in 2020, it had been in Republican control for more than half a century.
Paro, 33, is the town supervisor in Salina. He would be the second-youngest senator and the youngest in the Republican minority conference.
Paro got his start in politics under Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon’s wing in the county legislature, where he worked as a legislative aide and then a legislative analyst. He earned a law degree from Syracuse University.
The New York State Senate Republican Committee spent $235,000 on the race, records show.
Ryan ran on a platform to build jobs, better health and housing in a community about to benefit from the investment of Micron, the microchip maker.
Ryan also benefited from massive spending from Albany Democrats. The New York State Democratic Senate Campaign Committee spent $442,500 on his behalf and transferred another $203,000 to his campaign in September and October, records show.
The 50th Senate District covers the towns of Clay, Cicero, Camillus, Manlius, DeWitt, Geddes and Salina in Onondaga County and Fulton and Oswego in Oswego County.
Staff writers Jeremy Boyer and Maggie Hicks contributed reporting.