By Nancy Mac Innes
SUNY New Paltz

Democratic nominee Dorcey Applyrs was elected as the mayor of Albany, defeating Republican Rocco Pezzulo on Nov. 4, 2025. She is the first Black mayor elected in Albany’s history. 

“I am extremely happy. I’m still processing the situation but at the top of my mind I am really keeping my pride, humility and gratitude towards the city of Albany today,” Applyrs said. 

“I plan to continue the hard work and dedication I have displayed in being a councilwoman for this city to now the mayor.”

Applyrs announced her campaign in November 2023 and soon began making her way quickly up in the polls, passing her opponents. According to the Albany Times Union as of Wednesday morning, Applyrs won with 83.5% of the vote while her opponent Republican candidate Rocco Pezzulo lost to her with 13.5% of the vote. 

The new mayor also shared how she is planning to approach current issues with a “hands on” approach to deal with pressing major current issues in the city. 

“Currently, the city of Albany’s biggest issues are potholes, housing and public safety,” she added. “I want to ensure strategies that are community-centric to help combat our major issues. We are now recruiting for our talent committee as well as for administration to further build our team for the city.”  

A team called the “North Star and Compass” will be compiling information to create an action plan to aid the new mayor and direct her on what to address first along with an Activate Albany Team conducting surveys of the public. 

Applyrs will be the city’s new mayor, for the first time in over 10 years, replacing Kathy Sheehan, who is stepping down after she finishes her third term coming at the end of December. 

Applyrs was on the Albany Common Council representing the City’s First Ward starting in 2013 for her first term and began her second term in 2017. She served as the Chief City Auditor from January 2020 during her second term. The transition between Sheehan and Applyrs as the city’s mayor has already begun, she said, with the inauguration set to take place Jan. 1, 2026, and their co-chairs even meeting today to go over matters and begin the transition process. 

“The mayor’s seat does not really belong to the mayor or anyone. It belongs to the people and constituents who voted for the mayor in the election,” the mayor-elect said. “The person the public chose to show them we can and we will.”  

After winning the general election in a landslide, Applyrs presents as poised, collected and ready to step into her new position with grace along with years of hard work. She has officially made history by being the first Black woman elected as the mayor of Albany along with being the fifth person to ever be elected the Albany mayor. 

“I am excited for all that we do and are continuing to do for the city of Albany,” she said.