GOSHEN – Republican Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus will have a challenger this November as Newburgh resident Ali T. Muhammad announced Friday that he will seek the Democratic and Working Family lines.
County Democratic Chairman Brett Broge said the party is not backing Muhammad in his bid for the county’s top job.
Muhammad, who served as a Beacon City councilman before moving to Newburgh in 2017, ran for mayor in his new hometown. He attempted to gain the Democrat line, but his elections petitions were disqualified. He did run on the Independence Party line. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Torrance Harvey went on to easily defeat his challenger.
Muhammad said the job of county executive requires a humanitarian and manager, neither of which characterizes Neuhaus of Goshen.
Meanwhile, Broge said the Democrats have no candidate to challenge Republican District Attorney David Hoovler.
Broge also said they have fielded candidates for 15 of the 21 county legislature seats including retired county elections commissioner Sue Bahren, who is running for a seat representing her hometown of Chester.
