Chaires Wins Schenectady City Council Seat

Justin Chaires secured a term on the Schenectady City Council, defeating Republican Sarojanie Ibrahim and Conservative candidate Rachael Ward in the general election.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a plain wooden ballot box beside a stack of blank cards, in deep navy and cream with a brass accent. — Justin Chaires won a full term on the Schenectady City Council on Tuesday, defeating Republican Sarojanie Ibrahim and Conservative candidate Rachael Ward with 8,734 unofficial votes. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Justin Chaires won a term on the Schenectady City Council, receiving 8,734 unofficial votes. Chaires' general election margin was double the combined votes cast for Republican Sarojanie Ibrahim, who received 2,026 votes, and Conservative candidate Rachael Ward, who received 2,268 votes.

Why it matters

The win gives Chaires a full mandate to fill the final year of Joseph Mancini's four-year term after Chaires was first appointed to the vacancy late last year. The result also follows a court fight that Mayor Gary McCarthy lost in an effort to nullify that appointment.

Chaires received 8,734 unofficial votes, while Ibrahim received 2,026 and Ward received 2,268, with the margin more than double the combined opposition total. The results remain unofficial pending certification.

The players

Justin Chaires

Justin Chaires is a Schenectady politician who was appointed to a city council vacancy late last year before winning a term in the general election.

Gary McCarthy

Gary McCarthy is the mayor of Schenectady who backed Rachael Ward's third-party campaign and lost a court fight seeking to nullify Chaires' council appointment.

The details

Chaires defeated Ward by a razor-thin majority in the June Democratic primary before winning the general election. Ibrahim ended her campaign last month and endorsed Ward, who ran on the third-party line with the backing of Mayor Gary McCarthy.

Late last year: Chaires was appointed to a city council vacancy.
Last year: Joseph Mancini exited the council after selling his home and moving out of the city.
Earlier this year: Mayor McCarthy lost a court fight to nullify Chaires' appointment.
June: Chaires defeated Ward in the Democratic primary.
November 4, 2026: Chaires won the general election.

Political Context

The election tests whether voters will ratify an appointment that Mayor Gary McCarthy unsuccessfully challenged in court. The opposition's core argument, backed by McCarthy's endorsement of a third-party candidate, centered on the appointment process rather than the candidate's qualifications.

Chaires will hold the Schenectady City Council seat through the end of Mancini's term, giving residents a council member chosen by voters rather than by appointment. The vote count is unofficial, so the final result depends on certification.

The takeaway

Local council seats filled by appointment can be confirmed or challenged at the ballot box, as this race shows. Residents interested in how these seats are filled can follow the official certification of results.