All three Democratic incumbents representing Kingston in the Ulster County Legislature will be unopposed for re-election when early voting begins on Saturday. Ballots for city residents will include contested races for statewide offices, the state legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 2025, Democrats dominated county legislature races, unseating four Republican incumbents to attain a 19-4 supermajority. Because of a new law intended to put local elections on the same even-year cycle as state and federal contests, the two parties will face off again this year. But the legislature’s two top Democrats, Speaker Peter Criswell (D-District 7) and Majority Leader Abe Uchitelle (D-District 5) along with Gregory McCollough (D-District 6) will get a free ride to another two-year term after no challengers emerged in a city that has not elected a Republican to any city or county post since 2017.

In other races:

Gov. Kathy Hochul will seek a second four-year term running on the Democratic and Working Families party lines. She faces a challenge from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman running on the Republican, Conservative and Vote Affordable party lines.

State Attorney General Letitia James, seeking a third four-year running on the Democratic and Working Families party lines, faces a challenge from former federal prosecutor and DEA chief of staff Saritha Komatireddy, running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, seeking a fifth four-year term and holding the Democratic and Working Families party lines, will face entrepreneur and Wall Street financier Joseph Hernandez running on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Former Ulster County executive and incumbent U.S. Rep. for New York’s 18th Congressional District Pat Ryan is running for a third two-year term on the Democrat and Working Families party lines. He faces a challenge from first time candidate Jackie Mary Auringer who works at her family’s Kingston-based construction firm. Auringer holds the Republican and Conservative party lines.

State Sen. Michelle Hinchey is seeking a third two-year term running on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines. She faces a rematch with Republican attorney and business owner Patrick Sheehan who also holds the Conservative Party Line. In 2024 Hinchey bested Sheehan by a 58.6 to 41.3 percent margin to secure her second term.

Incumbent Assemblymember Sarahana Shrethsa is running on the Democratic and Working Families party lines as she seeks a third two-year term. She faces a challenge from Santos Lopez, chief marketing officer for Orange County Choppers, a custom motorcycle business featured on the TV show American Chopper. Lopez holds the Republican and Conservative Party lines.

Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa is unopposed in his run for a third four-year term.

Democrats Amy E. Joyce and Jennifer G. Sober will run unopposed for two state Supreme Court Judgeships in the Third Judicial District. The positions carry a 14-year term.

Democrat Julie Nolfo will run unopposed for a 10-year term Ulster County Surrogate Court judge.

Democrat Phillip Kirschner is running for a second 10-year term as Kingston City Court Judge.

Early voting will begin statewide on Saturday, Oct. 24 and end Sunday Nov. 1. In Ulster County, registered voters can cast ballots at the following early voting locations.

Kingston: The Andy Murphy Community Center, 467 Broadway.

Ellenville: Ellenville Public Library, 40 Center Street

Olive: Olive American Legion Hall, 26-28 Mountain Road, Shokan, NY.

New Paltz: New Paltz Community Center, 3 Veterans Drive.

Marlborough: Marlborough Community Center, 1520 Route 9W.

Saugerties: Saugerties Senior Center, 207 Market Street.

Polls at early voting centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Tuesday Oct. 27 and Thursday Oct. 29 when they will be open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. For polling locations and hours for Election Day voting on Nov. 3, check with the Ulster County Board of Elections at https://elections.ulstercountyny.gov/