Orange County Democrats back Menist in contested Senate primary

Ten Orange County Democrats threw their support behind Evan Menist in the 39th State Senate District race, a move that quickly exposed a split inside the local party just days before Tuesday’s primary. Gay Lee, one of Menist’s opponents, said the backing raised questions about whether he had been properly vetted, turning an endorsement into a test of voter trust as much as party loyalty.

The contest matters in Orange County because the 39th District reaches into the City of Newburgh, the Town of Newburgh, the Village of Maybrook, the Town and Village of Montgomery, and the Village of Walden. It also covers parts of Dutchess and Putnam counties, where Democratic activists and municipal officials are already sorting through a three-way primary with no incumbent on the ballot.

Lee’s criticism focused on Menist’s record on housing conditions and neighborhood quality of life in Poughkeepsie, saying those issues deserved scrutiny from anyone seeking higher office. That challenge carries added weight in a district where Orange County voters will help decide which Democrat takes the seat and where local party leaders can still move turnout in a low-margin race.

Menist’s campaign says he was elected to the Poughkeepsie Common Council in 2019, is serving his fourth term, and is the longest-serving current member. He is also listed as executive director of the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, a résumé that underscores his ties to Dutchess County and the broader Hudson Valley political network now feeding into the Senate race.

Lee has been described in other local coverage as a social worker and former executive director of NGA Supportive Housing, and she has also picked up support from Newburgh City Council member Omari Shakur. The third Democrat in the race, Dutchess County Legislator Lisa Kaul, adds another layer to a primary that is drawing from the same overlapping municipal and county political circles.

The 39th District contest has become part of a wider Hudson Valley primary season marked by multiple competitive Democratic races. For Orange County Democrats, the Menist endorsement signals that the county party is willing to pick a side early, while Lee’s objection shows how quickly that choice can become a referendum on process, accountability and who gets to define the field before voters cast the final ballots on Tuesday, June 23.