NEW YORK – There are three in the running to become the next State Senator for the 51st District in 2026. Democrat Michele Frazier announced her bid in August, and now two Republicans are joining the race: Sullivan County’s own Terry Bernardo and Schoharie Assemblyman Chris Tague.

Current State Senator Peter Oberacker is not seeking re-election as he throws his hat in the ring to become Congressman for New York’s 19th District, currently held by Josh Riley. 

The 51st State Senate District includes all of Delaware, Schoharie, Sullivan and Otsego counties, as well as parts of Broome, Chenango and Ulster.

Bernardo announced her campaign at a Republican Election Night event on November 5. 

“We are unified, we are standing strong, and we are ready,” she said. “I am stepping up again to represent the people who have stood by me all along.”

Bernardo currently serves on the Sullivan County Legislature and was previously an Ulster County Legislator and owned the skating rink Skate Time 209 in Accord, NY. 

She ran for State Senate 51st District in 2022, losing in a Primary Election to Oberacker. 

“We didn’t have the machine, we didn’t have the blessing—but we had the people,” Bernardo said during her announcement, noting that she won the vote in Sullivan County by 75 percent.

“I’m running for all of you; this race is not about titles, it’s about who you want at the table,” she said.

Tague was first elected to New York State Assembly District 102 in 2018. The district consists of all of Greene and Schoharie counties, along with parts of Delaware, Albany, Otsego and Ulster counties.

He is currently the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, and previously served as Schoharie Town Supervisor after a career at Cobleskill Stone Products.

Tague said his campaign will focus on “affordability, public safety and protecting upstate.”

“People in our district are working harder than ever and getting less in return while Albany politicians play games with their paychecks, their energy bills, and their kids’ education,” he said in a statement. “I’ll never stop fighting to make New York affordable, safe, and accountable to the people who actually live here.”

Tague’s campaign announcement included the endorsements from multiple legislative colleagues, Republican county chairs, Conservative county chairs, county government leaders and sheriffs. 

The Sullivan County Republican Committee was not on that list, but Sullivan County Conservative Chairman Ed Magilton was.

Republican Committee Chairman Rob Doherty told the Democrat that the committee will support whoever is nominated at its convention, which will take place in early January.

Frazier, who currently lives in Delhi and ran for this seat in 2024, is a former Oneonta City Councilmember. She grew up in Oneonta where her family owned and operated a greenhouse company for over 35 years. 

“[My] legislative priorities include addressing the housing crisis so rural New York can be a place where people can afford to live, work and raise a family; making sure rural communities have access to quality, reliable healthcare; increasing access to affordable quality childcare so parents who want to work can work; and expanding crisis services to better address mental health needs, freeing up our police and first responders in order to make our communities safer,” she said in a press release.