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A blue wave became a tsunami: 5 takeaways from the 2026 election in Central NY

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Tim Knauss (via syracuse.com)
Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comU.S. Rep. John Mannion speaks to supporters on election night at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.Democratic gathering at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comSupporters of U.S. Rep. John Mannion gather at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse to watch Election Day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.Mo Brown takes the stage at The Mizpah wine bar on election night in downtown Syracuse Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comState Senator Chris Ryan fires up the crowd at The Mizpah where Democrats gathered to watch election results come in Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Syracuse mayor fires up the crowd at the Democratic gathering at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comJosh Ludden fires up yhr crowd at the Democratic gathering at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comChris Ryan speaks to the crowd at the Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comSyracuse mayor Shaon Owens gets the crowd going. Democrat gathering at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comSupporters of Rep. John Mannion enjoy his election night event at The Treasury Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.Sheriff Toby Shelley takes the stage at The Mizpah in downtown Syracuse after winning reelection Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.Mo Brown speaks to the crowd at the Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDemocrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comNicole Watts at the Democrat gathering at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comMo Brown speaks to the crowd at the Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comMo Brown speaks to the crowd at the Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comRachel May speaks to the crowd. Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDemocrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comLinda Ervin, left, and Susan Gifford, right, speak with U.S. Rep. John Mannion at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse while watching election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Mo Brown speaks to the crowd at the Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDemocrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comNicole Watts with Chol Majok (center) and other supporters during the Democratic election night event at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comToby Shelley and a close knit group of supporters pose for a photo wearing clown noses as he held a 35 point lead in the race for Onondaga County Sheriff with around 83,000 votes counted. Opponents of Shelley created a Facebook account featuring AI generated Images of Shelley dressed as a clown to criticize his term as sheriff. Shelley had a poster featuring some of the AI images that read: U.S. Rep. John Mannion speaks to supporters on election night at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.Josh Ludden, Rep. John Mannion's campaign manager and chair of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee, at The Treasury Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.Mo Brown speaks to the crowd at the Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comMo Brown speaks to the crowd at the Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDemocrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comOnondaga County Comptroller Marty Masterpole. Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDemocrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDems check their phones as they gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comOnondaga Comptroller Marty Masterpole. Democrats gather at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comJournalism students from Syracuse University gather early for election night with Democrats at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comSpencer Berg, deputy county clerk,  pictured with County Clerk Emily Bersani, at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse where Democrats gathered to watch election day returns. Berg said he expects Democrats to win at least a 12-member supermajority on the county legislature.Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens attends a watch party for Rep. John Mannion Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, at The Treasury. Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens stopped into an election party, U.S. Rep. John Mannion, at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Syracuse Councilor Jimmy Monto, center, speaks with U.S. Rep. John Mannion at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse while watching election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens, left, and Pat Baker, speak with U.S. Rep. John Mannion at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse while watching election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Syracuse Mayor Sharon Owens takes the stage at The Mizpah on election night Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. She received the biggest cheers of the night declaring “Tomorrow, we take our country back!”County Legislture Chair Nicole Watts checks results with aide Kyle Madden during the Democratic watch party at The Mizpah wine bar in downtown Syracuse Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Supporters of U.S. Rep. John Mannion gather at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Kevin McAuliffe, right front and Stephen DiMarco, left, speak with U.S. Rep. John Mannion at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse while watching election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Justin Shiffman, right, and Kelly Shiffman, supporters of U.S. Rep. John Mannion, speak with Mannion at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse while watching election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Supporters of U.S. Rep. John Mannion gather at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.U.S. Rep. John Mannion speaks to supporters on election night at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.U.S. Rep. John Mannion speaks to supporters on election night at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.Supporters of U.S. Rep. John Mannion gather at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.U.S. Rep. John Mannion speaks to supporters on election night at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.Supporters of U.S. Rep. John Mannion gather at The Treasury in downtown Syracuse to watch election day returns, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

Syracuse, N.Y. — Central New York Republicans tried to shield themselves this year from the coming surge of anti-Republican sentiment, but nothing could hold back the giant wave. Voter dissatisfaction with President Trump and the national GOP washed over the entire election, affecting local races ranging from town board to county judge.

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