Sharon Owens says the Syracuse Democratic Party is facing a reckoning

On Saturday, the Working Families Party welcomed endorsed candidates from around the state to celebrate victories in Democratic primaries. That included Syracuse Democratic mayoral nominee Sharon Owens, who won resoundingly in June with over 60% of the vote. If she wins in November, she would be the first Black mayor of Syracuse and only the second woman to lead the city. Despite Owens’ overwhelming success among Democratic voters, though, the local party backed one of her opponents, Common Councilor Pat Hogan. Although Owens ran as a Democrat, she worked for independent Mayor Ben Walsh, an independent who bested the Democratic candidate in both 2017 and 2021.

This is now the third cycle in a row that the Syracuse Democratic Party has thrown its support behind a candidate who went on to lose the primary. But unlike the last two times, Owens is confident that she will succeed in November even with three other candidates – two independents and a Republican – on the ballot. City & State caught up with her during the WFP event to ask about her campaign, plans for the local party and what she hopes to see from Gov. Kathy Hochul ahead of the general election.

Syracuse has had an independent as mayor for the last two terms, beating the Democratic candidates, and there are now two independents running in the general.

Two Democrats who want to get on the ballot as independents. 

What is your approach to the race now, and what is the atmosphere in Syracuse that you think propelled Ben Walsh to victory? Will that help or harm you moving forward?

I think Ben Walsh brought together a coalition of people. During my campaigning, particularly during the petitioning time, I was finding out how many of our 20-something, 30-something voters are not registered Democrats. They are registered independents or registered as unaffiliated with any party. 

I came to know Ben Walsh because I worked with him under the previous administration, (Stephanie) Miner administration. And I think what he built was a coalition. I think when I decided to launch, my legacy in Syracuse was not governmental. I had worked for 30 years in not-for-profit work. So many people in the community knew me because of my work in not-for-profit on the ground with people. And so I began this process just on that, on that platform, to talk about what are the needs of people in the community. As, I guess, the individual who works in City Hall, my (opposing) candidates spend the entire primary throwing barbs about programming and implementation and issues that they were having with the administration. And the people of Syracuse just, well, didn't buy that. You don't get a 40% win if people bought all of the stuff that was said about me because of my affiliation with the administration.

Why do you think that the Syracuse Democratic Party endorsed your opponent Pat Hogan? And what is your path moving forward to work with them as the nominee?

Two things about the Democratic Committee is that the election previous to this one, they did not pick the person that ended up running against Ben Walsh. And the year before that, they did not pick the person who ended up running for it. It is clear that their process to identify a candidate differs from the actual people who go out to vote. What's going on now is a reckoning of all of us to come back around the table. I am voted by the people of the city of Syracuse, the designee for the Democratic line, the designee for the Working Families Party. And so we're coming together. I'm having meetings with leadership, but more importantly, I'm having meetings with other Dems within the party who want to see some change. It is my hope that I'd be able to work with both sides within the party to be a catalyst to bring everyone together.

How do you see yourself as part of this group of mayors here who are kind of change makers and not all being the picks of the establishment Democratic Party?

I was just talking to (Albany Democratic mayoral nominee) Dorcey (Applyrs), and I said to her, ‘When you were telling your story on the panel about not getting the designation, being counted out and pretty much not seen to be able to have a fighting chance to witness,’ I said, ‘I had to remind myself that you weren't talking about Syracuse, but were you talking about Albany.’ Because her and my journey are very, very similar. Two women who are Black, who are running, who are not identified as the entity to represent the party. For me, it was okay, I'm still going to move forward. For her, it was the same thing. We're still going to move forward and let the people decide what is going to be the case. I think if there's a clear message across the board, (it) is hearing what people are looking for and hearing what the voter populist is looking for, instead of power brokers within any given local structure.

A lot of people have been asking the governor about why she’s not endorsing Zohran Mamdani. But she hasn’t endorsed any mayoral candidate. Is that something you’d like to see from her as the leader of the Democratic Party in the state?

I hope that is part of her agenda. I recently met with her. We had a great conversation. She understands the future ahead of Syracuse and is very much engaged with it. (She) has been a tremendous supporter of the city of Syracuse, financially and policy wise. So I would really be surprised if that doesn't happen in the near future.

What is your approach now for the general election? You won a resounding victory in the primary, but there are three other people on the ballot, and November has different dynamics. How concerned are you about disunity among Democrats in Syracuse?

As far as my campaign is concerned, I'm going to continue to go down the road we've been on. What worked for us was a message that continued to talk about the future of Syracuse, not going after individuals. Understanding that here we are in a moment in Syracuse where we see the potential for its growth and its development and opportunity. 

I believe the party is going to come together. I believe that we're going to come together and galvanize ourselves around the designee. I think not to do so would send the wrong message. There are a lot of independent and unaffiliated voters in Syracuse. I think that many of them – if not, you know, clearly registered as Democrats – believe in democratic principles of fair(ness) and equity in our community in general. That message resonated with Democrats, but what was not recorded in voting were all the individuals who are not registered Democrats who came around and galvanized around our campaign, even though they couldn't vote in the primary. So we're going to continue to speak to them and talk to them, knocking on every door.

Have you given thought to the kinds of change you would encourage or like to see in the local Democratic Party if you win in November?

First of all, bringing more voices to the table that aren't the same voices that we've heard over decades. Individuals who are registered Democrats, or could become registered Democrats, who would be willing to be part of the local committee structure and local committee process, if not for the way things are run right now. There is a coalition of individuals outside of me that are really pulling apart. (County Legislator) Mo Brown, who introduced me, wrote a letter to the Democratic committee about this moment in time and a reckoning, and the local committee's need to examine and look at itself in the mirror. That message continues to resonate, and I think it's only growing. So I'll be engaged. Most of those people were folks who were part of my coalition, who felt on the outside and very much are not abandoning the Democratic Party or the Democratic Party principles, but want the best for the party. Right now, the way things are going and have been showing up in the voting booth is not what's best for that local party.

Do you think there will be something of a mayoral bloc with you and these other WFP candidates if you all win in November?

We absolutely need to make sure that happens, particularly for those working with the New York City mayor, but those of us upstate. Our reality is very much the same. (I) mentioned before (that) our poverty rates are very similar between Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. I will be absolutely encouraging the big five cities, to be able to be on the same page and on the same message.