In the crisp air of early November, the North Country of New York was abuzz with political anticipation. The 115th Assembly District, stretching across all of Clinton and Franklin counties and parts of Essex County, had become the stage for one of the state’s most closely watched special elections. On November 4, 2025, Michael S. Cashman, a Democrat from Plattsburgh, emerged victorious in a fiercely contested race, signaling more than just a local shift—it became part of a broader national story about Democratic momentum and changing political landscapes.
Cashman’s win didn’t afford him much of a victory lap. Just nine days after the ballots were counted, he was sworn in, immediately plunging into the demands of legislative work. "Assemblymembers are asked where they feel they can contribute to the work, but also, there’s no guarantee," Cashman explained, reflecting on his rapid transition into office. He wasted no time building up his legislative and district staff, opening offices both in Plattsburgh and Albany, and hitting the road to meet with constituents across one of New York’s geographically largest districts.
"I’m continuing to listen to small businesses, educators, veterans, first responders, working families," Cashman told the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. "That’s a huge part of this job." His early days have been marked by a focus on constituent services and navigating the labyrinthine state bureaucracy to address the needs of North Country residents. Cashman’s priorities—affordability, public safety, infrastructure, education, and health care—mirror the concerns he heard repeatedly from voters during the campaign, and they’re now guiding his work as the Assembly session looms in January 2026.
The race itself was a microcosm of the broader political volatility gripping the country. The 115th district has long been a political bellwether. In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump barely edged out Kamala Harris within the district, 50.47% to 49.22%. That razor-thin margin set the stage for a hard-fought special election after longtime Assemblyman Billy Jones resigned to take a position at Clinton Community College. Democrats tapped Cashman, then Plattsburgh’s town supervisor, while Republicans selected Brent Davison, a recently retired State Police major from Mooers Forks. Cashman also secured the endorsement of the Working Families Party, while Davison was backed by the Conservative Party.
With no time for a primary, county party chairs made the picks—an arrangement that sparked some internal Republican discord, especially when Clinton County GOP Chairwoman Jerika Manning’s decision clashed with Rep. Elise Stefanik’s endorsement of another candidate. Despite the drama, the contest was set: two locally rooted candidates, each vying to represent a district split almost evenly between red and blue.
The campaign was relentless, with wall-to-wall television ads, mail flyers, and yard signs at every intersection. According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, the spending was "perfectly rational" given just how competitive the district had become. In the end, Cashman won by a margin of 1,754 votes, securing 52.28% to Davison’s 47.65%. The final tally: 19,797 votes for Cashman, 18,043 for Davison, with 25 write-in ballots sprinkled in.
Geography played a pivotal role in the outcome. Cashman dominated the five Essex County towns in the district, winning there by a 25.82% margin. Clinton County, home turf for both candidates, was much closer—Cashman prevailed by just 3.37%, thanks largely to strong support in the city and town of Plattsburgh. Davison managed to capture Franklin County by a slim 2.15%. Notably, Cashman’s performance in Franklin represented a significant improvement over Democratic results in the 2024 presidential contest, suggesting that local candidates can outperform national trends when they connect with voters’ immediate concerns.
Turnout, as always, was a decisive factor. The bluer regions of the district saw higher turnout rates—Wilmington led the way at 65.60%, with Cashman winning by 5.19%. In contrast, towns like Bombay, with just 22.19% turnout, leaned heavily for Davison. Four of the five highest-turnout towns went for Cashman, while four of the five lowest favored Davison. It’s a reminder that, in close races, mobilization matters as much as persuasion.
Cashman credits his success to relentless outreach. "For a special election, 60 days, we put thousands upon thousands of miles on the car," he said. "And I haven’t let up on the gas since. I continue to get out in the district because it’s critical to hear directly from constituents so you can serve them directly." His approach—what he calls a model of "listening, learning and leading"—resonated in a district where voters are wary of top-down politics and value personal engagement.
This local story is unfolding against the backdrop of a national Democratic resurgence. On December 11, 2025, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) both announced they were expanding their target lists for the U.S. House and state legislatures, buoyed by a string of notable wins and overperformances. "In election after election this year, voters have sent a simple message: they are ready for change," said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene in a statement reported by The Hill. Democrats flipped the Miami mayor’s office—an 18-point shift from Kamala Harris’s narrow win there in 2024—and captured a state House seat in a Georgia district Trump had carried by double digits.
The party’s optimism is palpable. The DLCC is pledging $50 million for state legislative races in the coming year, aiming to flip Republican majorities and build Democratic supermajorities. According to DLCC President Heather Williams, "2025 was one of the strongest election years for Democrats in modern history and an unmistakable proof point for our underlying strategy to win elections up and down the ballot."
Republicans, for their part, are urging caution. Mike Marinella, spokesperson for the House Republicans’ campaign arm, dismissed the Democratic target map expansion, saying, "Democrats can daydream about ‘expanding’ the House map all they want, but reality keeps smacking them in the face." Some GOP leaders point out that special elections are unique and may not predict broader trends. Yet, even some Republican strategists acknowledge the warning signs. In Georgia, for instance, the Democratic win in a state House district and two Public Service Commission races raised eyebrows. "Even in a bad environment, we shouldn’t have lost Athens, and we definitely shouldn’t have lost the PSC races by 26 percent," said Republican strategist Heath Garrett to The Hill.
Despite weak national approval numbers for both parties—Democrats sit 18 points underwater in recent Harvard CAPS/Harris polling, while Republicans are 8 points underwater—Democratic candidates are outperforming expectations. Atlanta-based Democratic strategist Fred Hicks explained, "Because the national party is weak, but the individuals and individual districts are very strong."
As Michael Cashman settles into his new role, his story encapsulates the complex, shifting dynamics of American politics in 2025—a blend of local engagement, razor-thin margins, and the ever-present possibility of change. For the North Country and beyond, the next chapter is just beginning.
