Scott Bendett wins re-election in New York's 107th Assembly District

ALBANIA— In New York's 107th Assembly District, incumbent Republican Scott Bendett won re-election on Tuesday, defeating Democratic challenger Chloe Pierce.

According to the New York State Board of Elections, it was a close result between incumbent and challenger. When the polls closed Tuesday night, Bendett received just over 51% of the vote — a difference of about 4,800 votes.

A redrafting of the district boundaries brought residents of the town of Bethlehem into the district, creating a dogleg across the Hudson River for an area formerly covered by Rensselaer and Washinton counties. The district now includes portions of Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer and Washington counties.

Bethlehem posed a potential challenge to the incumbent's re-election efforts. Since a transfer of power 20 years ago, residents in suburban Albany have voted overwhelmingly Democratic. That trend continued, giving Pierce more than 4,400 votes, or 65% of the area's ballots. However, Rensselaer residents made up the difference, ousting the incumbent by more than 8,700 votes.

Bendett, a local businessman and first-term legislator, initially won his Assembly seat in 2022. During his campaign, he focused on economic relief measures aimed at reducing costs for residents, including support for tax relief programs . He also emphasized his commitment to local control in housing and advocated for public safety, emphasizing the importance of supporting law enforcement.

Pierce, a government affairs expert from the Capital Region, ran on a platform that addressed cost of living issues, affordable housing and public safety reforms, including incorporating mental health services into emergency response teams. She proposed measures to reduce property taxes by increasing the state's share of education and Medicaid costs and advocated for the development of affordable housing for seniors, veterans and working families.

Bendett's re-election maintains Republican power over the district. In his second term, he is expected to continue to focus on issues related to reducing the cost of living and public safety.