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2026 Petitioning Period
Feb. 24, 2026 - April 2, 2026

The official petitioning period for the Midterm Election is February 24, 2026 - April 2, 2026

“The petitioning process is one of the most basic building blocks of our democracy,” said Tompkins County Democratic Committee Chair Linda Hoffmann. “Over the course of the petitioning period, neighbors will gather signatures from neighbors and help candidates gain access to the ballot. Signing a petition for a candidate is one of the easiest and important ways for the public to be an active participant in their democracy.” 

2026 Candidates

The Tompkins County Democratic Committee will be out in the community collecting signatures during the official petitioning period, February 24, 2026 - April 2, 2026 in support of Democratic candidates for the following offices: NY 19 Congressional District, 52nd Senate District, 125th Assembly District, Tompkins County Sheriff, Tompkins County Clerk, NYS Democratic Committee Reps, 6th Judicial District Delegates, and local races. 

<p>Josh Riley </p>

Josh Riley

Josh Riley, Incumbent, House of Representatives, NY19

A fifth-generation Upstate New Yorker, Josh was born-and-raised in a working-class neighborhood in Endicott where his mom worked in law enforcement and his dad, grandparents, and generations before them worked in the IBM and Endicott-Johnson plants. When the local factories closed, Josh saw his community struggle while Wall Street enjoyed soaring corporate profits. 

That experience has guided Josh’s career, inspiring him to always fight those left behind. As our incumbent representative Josh represents a large swath of counties from Tompkins all the way to Rensselaer and the Hudson Valley.  His policies and positions can be accessed here:  https://joshrileyforcongress.com/policy-positions/

Josh and his wife, Monica, live in Ithaca with their two sons.

<p>Lea Webb</p>

Lea Webb

IncumbenT, NYS Senate 52nd District

Lea Webb was born and raised in Binghamton and is a lifelong resident of the Southern Tier. Senator Webb passed 35 bills through both houses during her first term, over 25 of which have already been signed into law. She serves as chair of the Senate Committee on Women’s Issues. During her first term, Webb voted to advance a Constitutional Amendment to always protect a woman’s right to choose, passed groundbreaking legislation to protect our access to clean water and air, and expanded school lunch in public schools and free universal pre-k. She also passed legislation through the budget to increase the TAP award to help more students afford college. In addition to all these important pieces of legislation, she tackled many local issues, including passing legislation to ban CO2 fracking and saving Roosevelt Elementary and the Ithaca Carshare. For more information on the issues: https://www.leawebb.com/issues

As a life-long community organizer, Senator Webb believes deeply in expanding opportunities for civic engagement. 

<p>Dr. Anna Kelles</p>

Dr. Anna Kelles

Incumbent, NYS Assembly 125th District

Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles represents the 125th District, including Tompkins County and the southwest of Cortland County. This district includes the metropolitan areas of Ithaca and Cortland as well as 17 smaller municipal towns and villages in both counties. As an active assembly member, Anna is the Chair of the Commission on Agriculture.  Additionally, she sits on the Committees on Agriculture, Corrections, Environmental Conservation, Health, Housing, Task Force on Food, Housing, the Women’s Caucus and the Task Force on Women’s Issues. For a list of the bills, she has sponsored visit: https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Anna-R-Kelles/sponsor/

Anna was born and raised in Tompkins County. Even after traveling the world, she felt called back to the beautiful lakes, waterfalls and trails and their peerless natural beauty that served as her sanctuary in her youth. She lives with her partner and their two beloved goofy puppies.

<p>Derek Osborne</p>

Derek Osborne

Incumbent, Tompkins County Sheriff

Osborne has been Tompkins County Sheriff since January 2019. As a patrol officer in the City of Cortland in 1995, he transferred to the Tompkins County Sheriff’s office in 2001.  He worked his way through the ranks from Deputy Sheriff to Investigator, Senior Investigator (Lt.), Captain and Undersheriff retiring in 2015. 

Osborne has the experience and the vision to continue improving community relations and operational efficiency while maintaining fiscal responsibility. “In these divisive times. you can count on me to serve all people of Tompkins County with honor, pride, and integrity.” For more information https://www.sheriffosborne.com/about-derek

<p>Rachel Graham</p>

Rachel Graham

Tompkins County Clerk

Deputy Clerk Rachel Graham is running to replace Tompkins County Clerk Maureen Reynolds, who is retiring. Graham, who’s spent nearly 20 years working in Tompkins County government, says she would continue some initiatives like becoming a paperless office. She has previously served as Administrative Recording Clerk and is a member of the county’s Diversity and Inclusion Infusion Team.

<p>Democratic Party Designating Petition for Judicial District 6, 125th Assembly District</p>

Democratic Party Designating Petition for Judicial District 6, 125th Assembly District

Multiple candidates

The registered Democratic members on this petition are Delegates and Alternatives to the 6th Judicial District, 125th Assembly District for the party's nominees for the Supreme Court.  Judicial delegates in New York are elected officials chosen during primary elections to represent specific Assembly Districts at party conventions, where they nominate candidates for State Supreme Court Justice. These delegates, along with alternates, are selected based on party rules and vote totals in their respective judicial districts. 

<p>Renate Ferro, Town of Caroline<br>Dan Lamb, Town of Dryden</p>

Renate Ferro, Town of Caroline
Dan Lamb, Town of Dryden

NYS Democratic Committee, Tompkins County Representatives

These two seated members of the Tompkins County Democratic Committee are continuing to represent Tompkins County on the New York State Democratic Committee.  The Committee meets four times per year.