Chris Ryan wins NY State Senate race over Nick Paro after final ballot count

Democrat Chris Ryan on Friday clinched a razor-thin election victory over Republican Nick Paro for the 50th State Senate District seat in Central New York.
The race had been undecided for more than a week after the election as officials counted absentee and affidavit (emergency) ballots.
Before Friday, Ryan led Paro by more than 1,000 votes in a district that spans parts of Onondaga and Oswego counties.
Ryan added a net gain of 87 votes on Friday, sealing his victory. Ryan finished with 81,560 votes to 80,138 votes for Paro (48.87%-48.02%), according to unofficial returns.
The difference is large enough that it won’t trigger an automatic recount. State law requires a recount when the final margin is less than 0.5%.
The election between Ryan, D-Geddes, and Paro, R-Salina, was one of the most competitive statewide for a state Senate seat.
After the final ballots were tallied Friday, Ryan told syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that the outcome shows that he was in tune with voter concerns about kitchen-table issues.
“We always knew it was going to be close, but we were always confident,” Ryan said. “We felt we had a good message that resonated with the voters. So, I’m just really grateful. We set out to make sure every working man and woman had a voice.”
Paro, the Salina town supervisor, conceded the election Friday and thanked election workers in Onondaga and Oswego counties for making sure every vote was counted.
“If there is anything that the race for Senate District 50 has taught us, coming down to a margin of less than 1% for two election cycles in a row, it is that Central New Yorkers crave a collaborative leader who will work across the aisle to deliver for our community,” Paro said in a statement from his campaign.
“I extend my sincerest congratulations to Senator-Elect Ryan, along with the personal offer that my door is always open for feedback on the priorities of the over 80,000 Central New Yorkers who put their faith in me this election,” Paro said.
He added, “It is essential for the future of our community that we have a senator who will try to identify ways to lead in a bipartisan manner and seek feedback from all corners of our district.”
The 50th District seat opened up after John Mannion, a two-term Democratic senator, decided to run for Congress this year. Mannion won his race over Rep. Brandon Williams last week.
Previously, Mannion won two close elections for the 50th Senate District seat. He won the 2022 election by only 10 votes.
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.
Ryan, 52, is the former Democratic floor leader of the Onondaga County Legislature. He was first elected to the legislature in 2011. He is also president of the Communications Workers of America, Local 1123.
Paro, 33, was trying to become the second-youngest state senator and the youngest in the Republican minority conference.
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