ALBANY – The chairman of the State Conservative Party has blasted a Republican candidate in the 51st Senate District for tying her opponent to Democratic Socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a heated primary campaign.
Terry Bernardo has linked her opponent, Assemblyman Chris Tague, to Mamdani in campaign literature based on their voting records in the Assembly. Mamdani served in the State Assembly from 2021-25.
Tague and Bernardo will face off in a primary on Tuesday. The 51st District includes all of Delaware, Schoharie, Sullivan, and Otsego counties, as well as parts of Broome, Chenango, and Ulster counties. Tague has been endorsed by the State Conservative Party.
“It’s a political hit job, and it’s very unfair and inappropriate,” said Jerry Kassar, chairman of the state Conservative Party. “I know a hell of a lot more about the State Legislature than Terry Bernardo, and Tague’s record is very conservative. What Terry did is very disturbing and makes her look not very knowledgeable about the State Senate, a place where she hopes to work.”
Bernardo, a Sullivan County legislator, didn’t back down from her claims about Tague.
“Chris Tague can call himself “conservative” all he wants – it won’t change the fact that he co-sponsored 23 pieces of NYS Assembly legislation with former Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, including forcing DEI into public schools,” Bernardo said.
A spokesperson for Tague’s campaign said each bill had dozens of co-sponsors, including some that were sponsored by nearly all members of the Republican Conference. None of the bills was partisan or an example of “left-wing” or “radical” legislation, nor do they prove that Tague votes “with” or “not with” anyone in particular, the spokesperson said.
“While it’s sad that my opponent would lower herself to these misleading attacks and outright lies, it’s certainly not surprising,” said Tague, who represents the 102nd Assembly District, which includes all of Greene and Schoharie counties, as well as parts of Delaware, Albany, Otsego and Ulster counties. “Her record is one of serving only herself and her small, pathetic political cabal. I would put my record as a strong, effective voice for the people I represent against hers any day.”
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