Rockland Post Desk
Village of Nyack’s mayor, Joe Rand, announced Monday that he will seek the Democratic nomination for the New York State Senate District 38 — setting up a race against incumbent Republican Bill Weber in November 2026.
“I am a local mayor, where the job is solving problems and getting things done, not playing politics,” Rand said in his announcement
From village hall to state politics
Rand brings to the campaign a mix of business experience and local‑government leadership. Before entering public office, he helped build a large real‑estate firm that employed hundreds of people and managed over a thousand agents across the region.
As mayor of Nyack, Rand frequently emphasized fiscal discipline — keeping the village within the 2% tax cap — while also delivering major funding for local improvements. Most notably, under his watch the village secured a $4.5 million grant from the New York Forward program, the largest in Nyack’s history. That funding is set to drive waterfront upgrades, downtown revitalization, small business support, and arts/arts‑space development.
What Rand says he’ll fight for
In announcing his Senate bid, Rand laid out a platform focused on:
- Affordability, especially tackling questions on Medicaid and Medicare, utility, and housing costs.
- Infrastructure and public‑works improvements, to address aging roads, downtown decay, and to support responsible development.
- Support for families, small businesses, and nonprofits, aiming to preserve quality of life in Rockland.
- Pragmatic, non‑ideological governance, presenting himself as a problem‑solver rather than a partisan figure.
Rand framed his run as a response to what he described as under‑representation for Rockland in Albany under the current Republican leadership.
Reaction and what’s next
The race could become competitive. Senator Weber — the target of Rand’s challenge — responded to the announcement by reaffirming his commitment to serving District 38, pointing to a record of bipartisan leadership and constituent services since first taking office in 2022.
Rand’s campaign launch notes that District 38 covers much of northern Rockland County (including Nyack) and parts of Westchester, meaning the stakes are high for what could be a swing district.