Evans prevails in Rochester mayoral primary

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans cruised to victory in Tuesday’s Democratic mayoral primary, unofficial results indicate.

With all districts reporting, Evans had 57 percent of votes cast. Councilmember Mary Lupien received 33 percent; political newcomer Shashi Sinha placed third with 10 percent.

“This victory belongs to the people of Rochester,” Evans told supporters Tuesday night. “Over the last four years, we’ve made real progress together—and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue building a safer, stronger, more vibrant Rochester.”

In 2021, Evans’ decisive primary win over incumbent Mayor Lovely Warren paved the way for his election as mayor in November. In that year’s primary, he received 66 percent of the vote versus 34 percent for Warren, who was seeking a third term.

In this year’s race, Evans built a substantial financial advantage over his challengers. In the reporting period from the beginning of the year to May 23, the mayor outraised and outspent his rivals, and had the most money on hand for the final push this month. 

Committee disclosure records filed with the state Board of Elections show he raised $226,862 since Jan. 1, or more than two-thirds of the $338,776 total raised by the three candidates. During the period he spent more than $280,000, compared with $88,154 by Sinha (who largely self-funded his campaign) and roughly $56,000 in listed expenditures for Lupien.

A Rochester native, Evans won a seat on the city school board a year after graduating from the University of Rochester. He was the youngest person ever elected to the board and served three terms as president. In 2017, he was elected to City Council.

In other Democratic primary contests Tuesday, City Council incumbents Stanley Martin, Miguel Melendez Jr. and Mitch Gruber were among the five winners, joined by Lashunda Leslie-Smith and Chiara “Kee Kee” Smith. The contest drew 15 candidates.

In the Rochester city school board race, with three seats up for grabs, current board president Camille Simmons, Kareem-Ba McCullough and Heather Feinman won. Former county lawmaker Vince Felder finished fourth.

In Brighton, town board member Christine Corrado and Clara Sanguinetti, who campaigned with Corrado, were victorious in the two-seat contest. Robin Wilt, another current board member, finished third.

Unofficial results include primary-day votes and mail-in ballots canvassed through June 18.

Paul Ericson is Rochester Beacon executive editor.

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