Two candidates compete for vacant Syracuse Common Council seat

A longtime member and a newcomer vie for the at-large position

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Two candidates, Helen Hudson and Cjala Surratt, both Democrats, made their case to the Syracuse Common Council on Friday for the vacant at-large seat. Hudson is a former council president returning to the fray, while Surratt is a newcomer to City Hall politics. The council will appoint one of them to serve until the end of this year, but voters will choose who serves the final year of the term in November.

Why it matters

The appointment of the at-large seat is significant as it will shape the city's leadership until the end of the year. The candidates have different backgrounds, with Hudson being an experienced politician and Surratt a political newcomer, but both are known as local activists. Their positions on key issues like the 'good cause eviction' law will be closely watched.

The details

Hudson and Surratt were chosen as the two finalists by the Common Council to be interviewed for the vacant at-large seat. While Surratt has the endorsement of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee, the council will ultimately decide who fills the seat until the end of this year. Both candidates have made names for themselves as local activists, with Hudson co-founding groups supporting gun violence victims and Surratt's work advocating for artist protections. During the interviews, the candidates discussed broader issues facing the city, including the upcoming vote on the 'good cause eviction' law, which would limit the reasons a landlord could evict a tenant.

  • The Common Council will vote on the 'good cause eviction' law on February 23, 2026.
  • The appointed at-large councilor will serve until the end of 2026.

The players

Helen Hudson

A former Syracuse Common Council president who is returning to the fray to compete for the vacant at-large seat.

Cjala Surratt

A newcomer to City Hall politics who is the owner of the Black Citizens Brigade, a clothing and bookstore with a left-wing political focus.

Rita Paniagua

The current Syracuse Common Council president, who only votes to break a tie.

Corey Williams

A Syracuse Common Council member who made a distinction between the council as lawmakers versus policymakers.

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What they’re saying

“There are these big ideas, but how do we think about all these different intricacies of realizing something?”

— Cjala Surratt, Candidate for Syracuse Common Council at-large seat (localsyr.com)

“When they talk about money in politics, that's fine, but I think it's the people that move you in politics. You can have all the money in the world, but the signs you put up don't vote. All those handouts don't vote either.”

— Helen Hudson, Candidate for Syracuse Common Council at-large seat (localsyr.com)

What’s next

The Syracuse Common Council will vote on February 23, 2026 to decide whether to opt in to the state's 'good cause eviction' law, regardless of whether they have filled the at-large seat by that time.

The takeaway

The appointment of the vacant at-large seat on the Syracuse Common Council will be closely watched, as the candidates have different backgrounds and perspectives on key issues facing the city. The council's decision could shape the city's leadership until the end of the year, when voters will choose who serves the final year of the term.