In a surprising turn of events, Albany County District Attorney David Soares, a Democrat, is launching a write-in campaign to retain his position after losing a primary to Lee Kindlon. Soares is campaigning against criminal justice reforms such as bail reform and other policies that he believes are harming communities. Critics have accused these reforms of being soft on crime and have highlighted cases of violent crimes committed by individuals released due to these policies.
Soares, who has been in office since 2005, blames his primary loss on his outspoken criticism of these reforms. He believes that public safety has been politicized, leading to his defeat in the primary. Primary winner Kindlon has dismissed Soares as a write-in candidate, citing issues such as Soares’ use of state grant funds for a personal bonus and his performance as a DA as reasons for his unpopularity.
The race also includes Republican candidate Ralph Ambrosio, a former state trooper and assistant prosecutor. With Soares and Kindlon splitting the Democratic vote, Ambrosio is hopeful that he can secure a victory in the upcoming election. While write-in campaigns are typically unsuccessful, there have been exceptions, such as Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown winning a fifth term as a write-in candidate in 2021. The outcome of the race between Soares, Kindlon, and Ambrosio remains uncertain as voters head to the polls on November 5th.
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