Onondaga County legislator Rich McCarron announced Monday he is running for State Senate. The Republican is seeking the 48th district Senate Seat currently held by Democrat Rachel May. That district includes Syracuse and southern and westernmost towns in Onondaga County, as well as all of Cayuga County, including the city of Auburn.
McCarron, during his announcement, said he’s concerned that home ownership is becoming unaffordable for the middle class. He also shared that residents tell him they feel less safe, due to criminal justice reforms the state has undertaken.
McCarron has been a county legislator since 2023. For 20 years he was a member of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s office and lately he’s been a realtor and a small business owner. In a written statement, he also said he’s concerned with the “importance of a bipartisan government, support for first responders suffering from job-related cancer, and the challenges facing small businesses.”
Fellow county legislator, Republican Dave Knapp is also running for state office. He announced last month he’s seeking the assembly seat being vacated by John Lemondes.
