Dennis Gordon lives in Carthage. Born in Bell County, Texas, to a U.S. Army family later stationed at Fort Drum, he grew up in Jefferson County. He graduated from Jefferson Community College and runs his own graphic design business.
Dennis Gordon is running for the open 117th Assembly District seat. Born in Bell County, Texas, to a military family, he lived on an Army post in Germany as a child before his family was stationed at Fort Drum, and he grew up in Jefferson County. He earned a degree from Jefferson Community College and has since run his own graphic design business. He has not held elected office. His campaign says he decided to run after learning no Democrat planned to seek the seat following the retirement of the longtime incumbent. According to his campaign, his priorities are lowering home heating and utility costs, strengthening the power grid, repairing roads, water systems and broadband, keeping local hospitals open, creating job training paths through BOCES and SUNY, and supporting small businesses, the trades and workers' right to organize.
Tammie Nabywaniec served about three years as chief of staff to Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, who is retiring from the 117th District seat. She resigned that post in April 2026 before filing to run. She has not held elected office.
Tammie Nabywaniec is running for the open 117th Assembly District seat. She is chief of staff to Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, a role in which, according to her campaign, she manages district operations across four counties and handles constituent services, local government relations and policy work. Her campaign says she has spent more than 20 years on family and community programs in Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Oneida counties, with experience in nonprofit leadership, community development and mediation. Earlier, she lived overseas and supported the U.S. embassies in Budapest and Tel Aviv before returning to the North Country. She is a certified community mediator and was named a fellow of Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy. She lives in the North Country with her husband, Jim. Her campaign says she will focus on affordability, local control and constitutional rights, public safety and support for veterans, farms and rural services.
Listed alphabetically by last name with every party line they appear on. Video statements are provided by the campaigns, unedited; every candidate was invited.
Where this race is
Assembly District 117
Includes all or part of: Brasher, Champion, Clare, Clifton, Colton, Croghan, De Kalb, Denmark, Diana, Edwards, Fine, Fowler, Gouverneur, Greig, Harrisburg, Hermon, Hopkinton, Lawrence, Le Ray, Lewis, Leyden, Lowville, Lyonsdale, Martinsburg, Montague, New Bremen, Norfolk, Osceola, Parishville, Piercefield, Pierrepont, Pinckney, Pitcairn, Rodman, Russell, Rutland, Stockholm, Turin, Watson, West Turin, Wilna (in the three counties; the district extends beyond them).
Some towns are split between districts. Tap any town on the map to open its race. Your exact ballot: type your address on the election page, or check voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.
Where to vote
Tue, Nov 3 · 6 AM – 9 PM
St. Lawrence County early voting, Oct 24 – Nov 1
Potsdam Central School Annex (new location), 68 Lawrence Ave., Potsdam, NYOct. 24 - Nov. 1, 2026: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except Mon. Oct. 26 and Wed. Oct. 28, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Jefferson County Office Building, 175 Arsenal Street, Watertown, NY 13601 (free parking in county lot behind building, enter from Sherman Street)Sat Oct 24 9am-5pm; Sun Oct 25 9am-5pm; Mon Oct 26 12pm-8pm; Tue Oct 27 9am-5pm; Wed Oct 28 12pm-8pm; Thu Oct 29 9am-5pm; Fri Oct 30 9am-5pm; Sat Oct 31 9am-5pm; Sun Nov 1 9am-5pm
Depauville Fire Hall, 15231 School Street, Depauville, NY 13632Same schedule as above: Oct 24-Nov 1; 9am-5pm except Mon Oct 26 and Wed Oct 28, 12pm-8pm
Lewis County Board of Elections, 7513 East State Street, Lowville, NY 13367Sat Oct 24 9am-5pm; Sun Oct 25 9am-5pm; Mon Oct 26 9am-5pm; Tue Oct 27 12pm-8pm; Wed Oct 28 9am-5pm; Thu Oct 29 12pm-8pm; Fri Oct 30 9am-5pm; Sat Oct 31 9am-5pm; Sun Nov 1 9am-5pm
