CORNWALL – State Senator James Skoufis (D-Cornwall), currently representing the 39th senate district, announced on Saturday that he will run in a different district in the upcoming election. With the new senate district maps finalized, Skoufis now resides in the same district as Senator Mike Martucci (R-Wawayanda) and will run against his Republican counterpart.
Martucci’s current 42nd senate district includes all of Sullivan County and parts of Orange, Ulster, and Delaware Counties. The new district is contained to most of Orange County. Both Skoufis and Martucci are lifelong residents of Orange County.
“With the release of finalized State Senate maps that aggressively carved up our existing district, my family, team, and I found ourselves with an incredibly difficult decision to make over the past two weeks,” Skoufis said.
“The newly-drawn 42nd District, which includes almost all of Orange County except Newburgh and Montgomery, represents the most suitable place to continue my service from personal and professional points of view. While it is with a heavy heart that I will no longer represent Newburgh, Montgomery, North Rockland or southern Ulster County, I am ready and raring to continue fighting for Orange County.”
Skoufis said that moving his wife and daughter to a different district would be “deeply unsettling on a personal level. Conversely, choosing not to move prior to the election would have been disrespectful to those I’d be seeking to represent.”
Skoufis has been in Albany for a decade, serving first in the Assembly before being elected to the Senate where he is currently in his second term. He has, on occasion gone against the grain within his own party, including pointing out flaws in the Democratic bail reform legislation.
Senator Skoufis reflected on his relationship with his colleague Martucci, saying “Thanks to Albany political hacks who don’t believe in bipartisanship, Senator Mike Martucci and I find ourselves in the same district. Mike is a friend who I’ve worked across the aisle with over these past two years and, given my respect for him, I pledge to run a civil, positive campaign in our race. Voters will have the opportunity to choose who they feel is best equipped to represent them in the State Senate.”
Senator Martucci issued a statement on Saturday afternoon, saying “I’ve enjoyed a good relationship with Senator Skoufis over the years, and I consider him a friend.” The senator echoed the sentiments of Skoufis regarding the redistricting plan, adding “We find ourselves in this position because of the wrangling of Albany insiders and decisions made beyond our control. I plan to continue to serve my constituents in Orange County moving forward. That has not changed.”
