A Democrat hoping to unseat longtime Republican State Senator Hugh Farley is kicking off his campaign in Schenectady County on Thursday.
Chad Putman, who is seeking to represent New York’s 49th district, is being joined by several Democratic officials including Capital Region Congressman Paul Tonko at his campaign kickoff in Niskayuna.
Putman is currently Deputy City Clerk for Schenectady.
Farley, a Republican who is the longest serving member of the state Senate, is also facing a challenge in his own party from Christian Klueg, a Northville real estate broker.
The 49th Senate District stretches across Schenectady, Saratoga, Herkimer, Fulton, and Hamilton counties.