Albany
Digital Clues Surface in NY 113th Assembly District Election
The mysterious bid of a 22-year-old was buoyed by a consultant of his ostensible rival.
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Key points
- Digital metadata ties a Republican campaign staffer to the website and design files of Working Families Party candidate Thomas Kenny.
- The 113th Assembly District race between Democratic incumbent Carrie Woerner and Republican Allen Caruso remains highly competitive.
- Third-party ballot presence could impact total vote counts for local voters across Washington, Warren, and Saratoga counties.
NewsWK — Voters Across Washington County, Warren County, and Saratoga County face a crucial legislative choice this fall. Recent digital findings from New York Focus show unexpected ties between two rival campaigns in the district.
Democratic Assemblymember Carrie Woerner seeks reelection in a competitive regional district. Meanwhile, Republican challenger Allen Caruso promises tax cuts and conservative reforms. However, third-party candidate Thomas Kenny appears on the Working Families Party ballot line.
Digital records reveal that a Caruso campaign worker created Kenny’s website. Consequently, local leaders are asking whether Kenny is acting as a Working Families Party spoiler candidate.
What Digital Links Connect Candidates in the NY 113th Assembly District Election?
Digital metadata links the campaign websites of Republican Allen Caruso and Working Families Party candidate Thomas Kenny. Both men are running in the NY 113th Assembly District election. Records show Caruso campaign worker Brandon Acres created graphic files for both candidates. Also, he established both campaign website accounts on the exact same date in early 2025.
Metadata embedded in campaign graphics shows identical design account origin details. Specifically, Canva graphics on both candidates’ sites originated from an account belonging to Brandon Acres. Moreover, site creation timestamps on Squarespace match to the exact second on Feb. 5, 2025.
Acres collected nearly $8,000 as a campaign worker for Caruso earlier this year. Additionally, Caruso’s campaign later paid $100,000 to Acres’ consulting firm for professional services. Caruso publicly described Acres as his marketing consultant. Furthermore, business records show the two men share prior commercial ties.
The digital connections extended beyond website design files. For example, Kenny had four Venmo contacts on his public payment profile earlier this week. One contact was Caruso’s campaign manager, Everett Noakes. Similarly, two others were Noakes’ family members. However, those profile links vanished after reporters asked questions about them.
What Does the Washington County NY Assembly Race Mean for Local Voters?
The Washington County NY Assembly race could determine control of key regional legislative priorities for local residents. Enrolled Republicans outnumber Democrats across the 113th Assembly District. Because of this registration gap, vote splitting on the minor line could decide the race. This dynamic directly affects Democratic incumbent Carrie Woerner and Republican challenger Allen Caruso.
The 113th Assembly District covers portions of Washington County, Saratoga County, and Warren County. Therefore, small changes in voter turnout can shift local representation in Albany. District residents rely on Assembly representation for state funding, road infrastructure, and local tax policies.
In close legislative contests, a minor candidate can easily alter final voting outcomes. For instance, voters who support working-class platforms might choose the Working Families Party option. If that line draws votes away from the main Democratic contender, the Republican candidate gains a math advantage.
How Did a Possible Working Families Party Spoiler Candidate Join the Ballot?
Candidate Thomas Kenny switched his voter registration from the Conservative Party to the Working Families Party in February. He made this move shortly before filing deadlines. Then, he gathered petition signatures to secure the minor party line unopposed. Next, he created an independent ballot line called No Kings for November.
Kenny, a 22-year-old Amazon station manager, previously denied operating as a political proxy. In an email statement, he defended his official position on the ballot.
“Regardless of what the establishment Working Families Party and Carrie Woerner say about my candidacy, I was put on the ballot by the voters and I am the legal Working Families Party and No Kings candidate running for the Assembly in the 113th District,” Kenny said.
Meanwhile, Caruso distanced himself from Kenny’s operational activities.
“I am 100% focused on the people of the 113th Assembly District and I am not aware of the inner workings of either of my opponents’ campaigns,” Caruso stated.
Why Are Critics Calling Thomas Kenny Working Families Party Presence Suspicious?
Critics view the Thomas Kenny Working Families Party candidacy with suspicion. Specifically, his campaign shows virtually no public outreach, funding, or independent events. Instead, campaign filings list $5,500 in self-funding. Meanwhile, metadata connects his digital assets directly to the Allen Caruso Carrie Woerner contest strategy.
Earlier this year, Woerner’s campaign supported a legal challenge to remove Kenny from the ballot line. However, the lawsuit failed, leaving Kenny on the ballot for the upcoming general election. Since then, Kenny has maintained almost no public campaign presence.
New York state uses a unique fusion voting system. This system allows candidates to run on multiple party lines simultaneously. While fusion voting offers flexibility, critics argue strategy teams can exploit the system. For example, similar ballot manipulation incidents occurred recently in Rockland County and Long Island local elections.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed a state law allowing party leaders to disenroll members who oppose party principles. Nevertheless, the legal process remains lengthy and complicated.
What Comes Next for the 113th Assembly District Election?
Voters in Washington County and neighboring communities will cast their ballots in November. They will vote amid heightened scrutiny of third-party lines. As Election Day approaches, local campaign teams continue active voter outreach. Consequently, volunteers across Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties work to explain ballot choices clearly to area residents.
Political dynamics in Saratoga County faced additional Disruption Recently. Saratoga County Republican Party Chairman Joe Suhrada announced his resignation after the public release of a recorded phone call. Before stepping down, Suhrada disavowed Kenny’s campaign and criticized candidate ties to opposing ballot lines.
Ultimately, voters hold the final power at the ballot box. Understanding candidate backgrounds and ballot connections helps local residents make fully informed decisions for our communities.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
Related: Kathy Hochul Campaign Donations Shift to State Party After Refund
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