Syracuse, N.Y. – The Democrats have picked their candidate for an expected special election next year – even though the state Senate seat isn’t technically open yet.

The Democratic committees in Onondaga and Cayuga counties have picked John Mannion, a West Genesee teacher, as their designated candidate, according to the party chairs from both counties. Mannion wants to run for the same Syracuse-area senate seat he lost last year to Bob Antonacci by just two points.

“Our committee enthusiastically backed him,” said Ian Phillips, who heads the Cayuga County Democratic Committee. “Most people knew John was a really strong candidate and has a really strong team. He came really close last time.”

Antonacci, a Republican, won a judge seat in this year’s election. He’s expected to resign from the legislative seat by the beginning of the year.

That doesn’t automatically mean there will be a special election. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has to call one. He said last month he’s considering adding it to the April 28 presidential primary.

If the governor does, Mannion will be the Democratic candidate, according to Phillips and Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter, who heads the Onondaga County Democratic Committee.

Onondaga County Republican Chairman Tom Dadey said his party is waiting for the governor’s decision before selecting a candidate.

“There’s no vacancy as of yet," Dadey said.

“We’re going to go through our candidate selection process as we normally do,” he said, adding that he’s talking to a number of people. “We’ll be focused on winning that seat in November.”

Mannion, 51, of Geddes, taught for 27 years and teaches biology. If he wins the seat, he says he would take a leave of absence and ultimately leave teaching.

The 50th District includes part of Syracuse and the towns of Manlius, Dewitt, Onondaga, Marcellus, Otisco, Spafford, Skaneateles, Clay, Van Buren, Lysander, Camillus and Elbridge in Onondaga County. It includes Auburn, Sennett, Cato, Ira and Brutus in Cayuga County.

Democrats have a slight enrollment advantage, with 68,818 compared with 65,036 Republicans. There are another 53,687 voters not enrolled in a party. And there are more than 3,700 Conservatives – who usually back GOP candidates.

Even if there is a special election called, the 50th Senate seat will be back on the ballot for the regular 2020 election calendar. That means whoever wins any special, early election would have to run again in the state’s June primary and November general election.

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