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Dorcey Applyrs, Albany's Chief City Auditor, declared victory in the Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday (June 24). She defeated Dan Cerutti, Corey Ellis, and Carolyn McLaughlin in a closely watched race. With this win, Applyrs is poised to become Albany's first Black mayor and the second woman to hold the position, following current Mayor Kathy Sheehan's decision not to seek re-election.
Applyrs' victory marks a significant milestone in Albany's political landscape, given the city's long-standing Democratic dominance. She told her supporters, "We are making history today. We could not have done this without all of you in the room." Dan Cerutti, her main opponent, conceded the race, acknowledging, "I don’t think we got it done" as reported by Times Union.
Meanwhile, Albany County Legislator Sam Fein appears to be heading toward victory in the race to replace Applyrs as Chief City Auditor. Fein led with 5,321 votes, followed by John Rosenzweig with 2,757 votes, and David Galin with 2,440 votes, according to unofficial results.
The primary saw a robust voter turnout, with more than 10,000 city residents casting their votes. The final results will be confirmed once the absentee ballots are counted. Applyrs' victory sets the stage for a historic mayoral election in Albany, with the general election scheduled for November.