Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan, 54, is from Geddes and holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Buffalo State College and an associate degree in criminal justice from Onondaga Community College. He has been a member of the Communications Workers of America Local 1123 for 28 years and was elected its president in 2014. He was elected to the Geddes town board in 2005 and served in the Onondaga County Legislature from 2011, rising to minority leader. He is in his first term in the State Senate, where he chairs the Cities 2 Committee and sits on committees including Agriculture, Health, Energy, Labor and Consumer Protection. He worked with Micron to bring its chip plant to Central New York and supports its development there. He says he focuses on lowering costs, including drug costs, and on resources for schools and law enforcement. He introduced legislation to delay the state's zero-emission school-bus mandate, and a five-year delay was included in the 2026 state budget.