GOP picks candidate for Assembly special election in North Country

On Wednesday, county chairs selected former State Police Commander Brent Davison as their nominee for the 115th Assembly District’s special election scheduled for Nov. 4. Davison will face Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael Cashman, the Democratic nominee, in the race to replace former Assembly Member Billy Jones, a Democrat who left the state Legislature earlier this year to take a position at Clinton Community College.  

Davison’s pick came after an awkward dispute between Clinton County GOP Chair Jerika Manning and Rep. Elise Stefanik over their preferred nominees, with Manning preferring Davison to Stefanik’s choice of Malone Mayor Andrea Dumas. Things have settled significantly since then, and Davison told reporters that he isn’t worried about a lack of buy-in from Stefanik’s camp as he begins campaigning. 

“She endorsed that person before she knew that I was involved, so I have spoken to her,”  Davison said. “She did tell me that if I was the Republican candidate, that she would support me.” 

Cashman has distanced himself from the partisan nature of the race and attracted endorsements from Republicans and Democrats along the way. But Davison plans to tie him to current leadership in the state and criticized Cashman’s candidacy as likely more of the same, trumpeting the Republican attack that Democrats' control of the state Legislature has led to ruin in New York, from crime to affordability. 

“Mr. Cashman currently doesn't want to discuss parties, which is convenient, because there's been one party rule in Albany for over 15 years. When I go out and talk to the constituents in the 115th District, they want change.”

Although the district exists within the North Country, a redder part of the state, some believe Democrats should expect to retain the seat, as Republicans must contend with negative public perception driven by the Trump administration. State GOP Chair Ed Cox said he wasn’t worried by the prospect, but did acknowledge that picking up the seat would be a boon for the party, as well as a great indication of things to come. 

Republicans are already looking ahead to 2026, when they will challenge Democrats’ control of the governorship. Stefanik will likely be the Republican gubernatorial nominee, and according to Cox, there will not be a GOP gubernatorial primary. Republicans will also attempt to flip seats like the 19th Congressional District – where Republican state Sen. Peter Oberacker plans to challenge Democratic Rep. Josh Riley – and attempt to grow their strength in the lower Hudson Valley and on Long Island. 

“I know there was a good Democrat there who was very effective politically, and to replace him with a Republican will be a very good victory for us,” Cox told reporters. “Very good start going into 2025 elections, and then 2026, (a) crucial cycle for us, crucial, crucial cycle for these things.”