What Exploring a Run for New York State Assembly Really Means
December 9th 2025
I want to share something important with you about the conversations I have been having and the decisions I am considering. As reported by the Post Standard and Central Current, I am exploring a run for New York State Assembly.
Exploring does not mean launching. It means talking with the people who shape our community and who understand our community’s politics. I have been meeting with labor leaders, community organizers, press members, activists, and anyone else paying attention to local / state government. I am asking questions, getting feedback, learning about the incumbent, learning more about myself, and trying to understand how different people see this race playing out. An exploration is a long conversation where you ask for many perspectives, and you listen carefully to what they say back.
What This Means For My County Legislature Seat
A major part of this conversation is what it would mean for my current role on the Onondaga County Legislature. It’s not been officially reported, but I have it on good authority that the establishment within the democratic party has plans to run a primary challenge to my seat on the legislature. With the county’s move to even-year elections and four year terms, I cannot run for county legislature and for state office at the same time. If I were to run for Assembly this year, the voters would choose the next legislator for district 15. If I waited two years, the county executive would appoint a replacement. Having seen this play out when State Senator Ryan Chris Ryan vacated his legislator seat, I am not convinced that risking a handoff like that, simply for the sake of political convenience, is the responsible thing to do.
Some would view this move as me running away from that race; however, if I’m running a primary versus the establishment, I might as well explore to see which fight will have the most return on investment for the community.
How This Impacts Our Legislative Work
I also have to evaluate how it impacts the work we are doing in the county legislature. I think we are in a far better place right now than we were when I was first elected. While I was very interested in becoming the chair of the legislature, to me the decision was more about what I felt the democratic caucus needed, and less about what the community needs. It’s been made very clear to me that the caucus doesn’t “need” me in leadership. My colleagues and I are all learning what being in the majority means. They are correct when they say they do not need me in order to succeed.
Nicole Watts will be an excellent Chair of the Legislature. With her and Leader Hernandez at the helm, I can confidently say that whether I’m the District 15 legislator or not, the county of Onondaga is in good hands.
I think this year will be important for Democrats to set our agenda. I plan to influence that conversation, but I don’t have to lead it. I’m exploring to see what the time commitment would be in running. To see if I’m still be able to do the job of a legislator, and hopefully chair a committee if the chair asks that of me. Most of the heaviest work at the county level will happen around the budget in September, long after the primary ends. Running while working is never easy. It should not be easy. But in my opinion, ease alone should not decide whether I take on something that I believe would make our community stronger.
What Exploring the Issues Looks Like
A big part of the exploration is seeing how the issues I’m passionate about resonate with the district. The issues I have confronted since taking office are often issues controlled or influenced at the state level. Affordability remains the biggest issue in Syracuse. Last year, I saw first hand that childcare expenses and basic household needs are driven by decisions Albany makes. Our entire housing conversation from the housing stock’s deterioration, to tenant dignity in passing laws like Good Cause Eviction. I want the county to invest in a public developer housing model to address our low stock issue, but the state of New York is already moving forward on this for Syracuse and I think we need an Assemblymember willing to champion this to get the projects across the line. Yet another issue the state dominates the affordability conversation with is utility bills. With energy costs skyrocketing and hitting the pockets of every one I know, the state has the loudest voice in these conversations and I think we need to use that voice better.
Public safety is another key issue. While the Sheriffs are county based, the state legislature can set protections for all our communities. One of the more noteworthy examples is the NY for All Act (A3506A). This legislation protects our neighbors from federal agencies that disregard rights we are all supposed to have. Many of these agencies target people they deem to be here “illegally.” In doing so they’ve created a hostile environment within our community by weaponizing fear and misinformation.
Fundamentally, I don’t think anyone is “illegal” on stolen land and I believe Central New York needs more state representatives who will take the lead on this.
A part of the exploration is talking to the community and seeing if the issues that have played the biggest role in my work are the ones impacting our community the most, and what the incumbent has done (or has not done) in those areas.
Exploring Viability
Exploring a campaign also means examining whether a path to victory is real. The way I’ve thought about it as of late is two-fold, “is there a path to victory?” and “are you willing to walk that path?”
The district is dark blue, I am confident that the winner of the democratic primary will be the assemblymember for the 129th district. Of the 31k eligible voters for the Democratic Primary election, about 26k of them had the ability to vote in the democratic primary for mayor of the city of Syracuse. The district includes the Town of Geddes, and the Town of Van Buren; however, the democratic primary electorate is disproportionately located within the City of Syracuse.
The parts of the district that recently voted in that primary rejected the establishment candidate by a wide margin. More than 75 percent of voters chose someone else. This is only one indicator, but it is a strong one that makes the argument for “the district is ready for something different.”
The incumbent has more than $200,000 in the bank and would likely spend at least $500,000 in a race like this. Exploring means getting into the mind of someone willing to spend that kind of money for two more years of service. Spending that kind of money instead of being a mentor, saving the money and setting us up for the next 10 years. With public financing, I can compete, but only if small donors step up early. A $100 donation from an eligible district resident becomes more than $1,000 when matched. It is one of the most powerful reforms our state has passed.
Viability also means understanding the landscape. There will be a primary for governor. There is an announced republican running against Congressman Mannion. There could be competitive primaries for state Senate and even overlapping county legislature districts. You have to understand the field before you lace up your cleats. Otherwise, you could look down and realize the game is being played on concrete.
Working Families Party Support
Arguably the biggest part of this exploration is whether I can earn the support of the New York State Working Families Party. Their support matters because they have become a real force in Central New York, and NYS as a whole. Mayor-elect Sharon Owens' WFP backed primary win sent a clear message. I plan to complete the WFP questionnaire when it is released and will seek their endorsement. I have already spoken with some of their leadership and I feel encouraged, but exploring means being honest about what is possible with or without their support. For me, there is no clear path forward for me unless we are building this together.
The Deeper Conversations Behind the Scenes
Even though this write up is long, it still does not cover everything. I have been talking with other Assembly members to learn what bills the incumbent has prioritized in caucus. I have been talking with people close to him to understand his capacity and willingness to run a full field operation, or if he will just throw money at the problem. I have been talking with my colleagues in the county legislature to make sure our work remains in good hands if I step away. I have a checklist of questions that continues to grow and the honest truth is that sufficiently exploring the possibility of a campaign is probably as intense as running one.
In my mind, the decision to run hinges mostly on two things:
Whether I can earn the support of the New York Working Families Party.
Whether I can build a well funded campaign capable of taking on a well-funded incumbent willing to spend a half million dollars in order to prove a point.
The public financing system changes the math, but it does not erase the challenge. I need 75 people who live in the 129th assembly district to donate between $5 and $250 in order to qualify for the Public Matching. If I’m unable to qualify, I don’t think there’s a path forward.
How You Can Help This Exploration
There are two quick and ways you can help me during this process.
First, show public support. Whatever platform you use, whether it is Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, TikTok, Reddit or others, letting your network know that you support me makes a difference. On the flipside, telling your network how much you do not support me helps because it gives me a clearer picture of where people stand. I’ve been looking at the comment sections of both posts by the Central Current and the Post Standard, it appears that I’m well liked; however, this isn’t a complete indication and getting as many data points as possible helps to paint the complete picture.
Second, donate to the exploratory committee. If we begin this campaign with money already in the bank, we can devote the petitioning period entirely to meeting neighbors and gathering signatures. If ten people who live in Syracuse, Geddes or Van Buren each contribute one hundred dollars, that becomes almost ten thousand dollars once matched, which is the equivalent of a full fundraiser. Donations can be made here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/maurice-brown-129
This process should not be rushed. I will not rush it. Exploring means learning, listening and adapting as new information comes in. I have tried to be transparent with every step of my career. This moment is no different. This decision will shape my career, and if running against an establishment candidate for legislature will be more beneficial than running against one for Assembly, than I’ll return all the donations and simply change course.
Thank you for your patience and your trust in me and my process.
In solidarity
Maurice Mo Brown