Luján to run for State Senate seat

Posted 5/17/22

New district lines mean new representatives in Albany and in Washington DC and new candidates in the running.

Among them is Orange County Legislator Kevindaryán Luján (D-Newburgh) …

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Luján to run for State Senate seat

Posted

New district lines mean new representatives in Albany and in Washington DC and new candidates in the running.

Among them is Orange County Legislator Kevindaryán Luján (D-Newburgh) who has announced that he will be running for New York State Senate for the newly-drawn 39th Senate district currently occupied by Senator James T. Skoufis (D-Cornwall)

“Throughout these past two years we have seen how the global pandemic has strained all of our communities. While some might want to go back to the way things were, the reality is the old normal was not working for every day working class families. In one of the richest countries in the world, we are seeing as community members are being forced to make difficult choices. No one should have to choose between childcare and groceries, between medicine and rent. That is simply unacceptable. We can and must do better, we need leaders in Albany that understand that the old normal is just not good enough. We need leaders that are going to work to help raise up all our community members in these difficult times.” said Luján.

The new 39th District includes a small portion of Orange County and portions of Dutchess, including Beacon and Poughkeepsie and Putnam.

If elected, Luján, whose family immigrated from Colombia, would be the first person of color as well as one of the youngest people ever elected to the New York State Senate from the Hudson Valley. He has been an Orange County Legislator since 2018, representing half of the City of Newburgh and a portion of the Town of Newburgh in the Orange County Legislature. His resume also lists positions as a Medical Assisted Treatment coordinator for a non-profit in Poughkeepsie, former Adjunct Professor at SUNY Orange. Committees and Boards: Caucus of Color Chair for the New York State Young Democrats, Member of the City of Newburgh Democratic committee, Member of the Orange County Democratic Committee, Member of the Latino Democrats of Orange, Member of the Orange County Young Democrats, Board Development Chair for Habitat for Humanity, Member of the Greater Newburgh Parks Conservancy Board and Co-founder of the Newburgh Repair Cafe.

“As an Orange County Legislator and community activist I have been a vocal supporter of good cause eviction legislation, I have pushed for affordable housing, for reproductive rights, I have been an advocate for economic and racial justice and I have stood up to fossil fuel companies who have opposed environmental justice and renewable energy. As your State Senator, I pledge to continue that fight and ensure that the Hudson Valley and all our residents feel heard. We can and must lead on affordable housing, we must connect our communities to jobs by investing in transportation and we must put our community first.” said Luján.

Redistricting would place Skoufis in the new 42nd district along with incumbent Mike Martucci (R,C-New Hampton). That district encompasses most of Orange County, with the exception of the City and Town of Newburgh. Martucci, Tuesday, announced that he would seek re-election in the 42nd.

Skoufis, as of Tuesday afternoon, had not announced his plans, but hinted that he may run for Congress in the new 18th Congressional District representing Orange County, southern Ulster and most of Dutchess County. Assemblyman Colin Schmitt (R-New Windsor) is a declared candidate for that seat. The incumbent, Sean Maloney, (D-Cold Spring) is switching districts because of the re-alignment.