Under New York State’s unique 1919 historians law, every town, village, and city in New York is required to appoint a local municipal historian. As a result many town and county historians across the state’s history have served in — or run for — local to statewide offices. This year, several historians are running for office, including current State Historian Devin Lander.
Lander is in the midst of a Democratic campaign to unseat incumbent Republican State Senator Jake Ashby in District 43. His campaign focuses heavily on localized infrastructure and quality-of-life issues, including lowering utility rates, fighting rising prescription drug costs, and replacing outdated lead water pipes across the district.
He has vocally criticized the lack of state resources reaching Rensselaer, Washington, and Albany counties, pledging to secure increased funding for aging local roads, school sports, arts, and music programs.
Running in a redrawn, competitive “purple” district, Lander argues that as a member of the Democratic majority, he can effectively deliver state resources that his Republican counterpart cannot.
Jonathan Makeley
Jonathan Makeley, a Western New York historian and the National Secretary for the Prohibition Party, launched a write-in campaign this cycle for Governor of New York.
Makeley’s historical work has focused on the history of American reform movements, especially in the nineteenth century. He has served as the town historian of Angelica, NY since 2017.
Makeley treats alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs as public health crises. He also advocates for stronger state ethics laws, the protection of neurodiverse and disabled New Yorkers, and natural resources, and increasing funding for rural public schools.
He has been a vocal critic of New York’s restrictive third-party ballot access laws. Makely’s Prohibition Party is the oldest continuously active third party in the United States.
The party, which evolved form the temperance movement, was founded in Chicago in September 1869. It’s primary aim has been to prohibit the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages.
It reached its greatest national strength in 1888 and 1892, when its presidential candidates won about 2.2% of the popular vote. Clinton B. Fisk won 2.20% of the popular vote (249,819 votes) in 1888. John Bidwell won 2.24% of the popular vote (270,879 votes) in 1898.
The party’s decades of advocacy contributed to the passage of the 18th Amendment in 1919, which established national prohibition. After the 21st Amendment repealed prohibition in 1933 (the only constitutional amendment to ever be repealed), the party lost much of its momentum.
Thomas Boomhower
Thomas Boomhower is a historian who has focused on economic development has been involved in regional preservation efforts. He holds a M.A. in American History from the State University of New York at Albany.
Boomhower has served as a Village Trustee in Catskill, participating in community revitalization initiatives like the Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
He lost the Democratic primary for Assembly District 102 in June, coming in second place to Janet Tweed (no apparent relation to William ‘Boss’ Tweed).
Historian Candidates Through The Years
Lewis Lehrman, a gubernatorial candidate in 1982 was an American historian, Abraham Lincoln scholar, and founder of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History before passing away in early 2026.
Famous for his red suspenders, he ran as the Republican nominee for Governor of New York in 1982, narrowly losing to Democrat Mario Cuomo.
Though primarily known as a national figure for his “Keys to the White House” election forecasting system, political historian Allan Lichtman sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Maryland in 2006.
Lichtman’s professional focus has frequently intersected with New York politics, media, and legal testimonies regarding voting rights.
His historical critiques frequently center on New York political figures — ranging from historical profiles like his book FDR and the Jews to contemporary critiques of Donald Trump.
Before serving as Governor of New York and the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt was an accomplished historian among other things.
He published his first major scholarly work, The Naval War of 1812, at age 23, and went on to write the massive four-volume narrative history The Winning of the West. He served as the president of the American Historical Association (AHA) in 1912.
Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the United States, remains the only American president to hold a PhD. He earned his doctorate in history and political science from Johns Hopkins University and worked as a professor of history at several institutions before entering politics.
Like Roosevelt, Wilson served as the president of the American Historical Association (in 1924).
The 1972 Democratic presidential nominee and long-serving U.S. Senator from South Dakota George McGovern earned a PhD in history from Northwestern University. Prior to his political career, he was a professor of history and political science at Dakota Wesleyan University.
Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich holds a PhD in European history from Tulane University. Before running for Congress, he taught history at West Georgia College throughout the 1970s.
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