St. Lawrence County Legislator, District 5 · New York 2026 General Election

What this office does: The 15-member St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators adopts the county budget and sets county policy; each legislator represents one district.

Besaw defeated incumbent Harry A. Smithers, II in the June 2026 Republican primary; Smithers remains on the ballot on the Common Sense line.

Daniel Horton

Democratic

Veterans advocate · Gouverneur

The gist

Pledges to prioritize repairs to county roads.
Pledges to expand services for local veterans.
Pledges to protect Second Amendment gun rights.
Opposes officials' pay raises without voter approval.
Pledges to prevent county tax increases.
Supports term limits of two four-year terms.

More about Daniel

View sources (1)

Pledges to prioritize repairs to county roads.
Gouverneur veterans advocate seeks county board seat
News coverage · NorthCountryNow · northcountrynow.com
“deplorable state of our county's infrastructure, particularly our roads”
Pledges to expand services for local veterans.
Gouverneur veterans advocate seeks county board seat
News coverage · NorthCountryNow · northcountrynow.com
“supplement services for local veterans”
Pledges to protect Second Amendment gun rights.
Gouverneur veterans advocate seeks county board seat
News coverage · NorthCountryNow · northcountrynow.com
“vows to preserve Second Amendment rights”
Opposes officials' pay raises without voter approval.
Gouverneur veterans advocate seeks county board seat
News coverage · NorthCountryNow · northcountrynow.com
“ensuring no pay raises for elected officials without voter approval, preventing tax increases”
Pledges to prevent county tax increases.
Gouverneur veterans advocate seeks county board seat
News coverage · NorthCountryNow · northcountrynow.com
“ensuring no pay raises for elected officials without voter approval, preventing tax increases”
Supports term limits of two four-year terms.
Gouverneur veterans advocate seeks county board seat
News coverage · NorthCountryNow · northcountrynow.com
“advocating for two four-year terms”

Troy Besaw

Republican, Conservative

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Troy

Harry A. Smithers, II

Common SenseIncumbent

The gist

Voted for the sheriff's 287(g) jail agreement with ICE.
Opposes legislators second-guessing the sheriff on ICE cooperation.

More about Harry

View sources (1)

Voted for the sheriff's 287(g) jail agreement with ICE.
Five hours of public comments heard before St. Lawrence County legislators approved ICE agreement
News coverage · Watertown Daily Times (NNY360) · Feb 3, 2026 · nny360.com
“Those in support were all Republicans: James Reagen, David Forsythe, Joseph Lightfoot, William Sheridan, Harry Smithers”
Opposes legislators second-guessing the sheriff on ICE cooperation.
Five hours of public comments heard before St. Lawrence County legislators approved ICE agreement
News coverage · Watertown Daily Times (NNY360) · Feb 3, 2026 · nny360.com
“The sheriff's office has been very upfront”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.