GOP voters back 27-year-old landlord for Syracuses state Senate district [Video]

Caleb Slater secured the Republican nomination in the race for the 48th Senate District, knocking off a well-known Onondaga County community leader who had the backing of the county’s GOP committee.

With all the districts counted, Slater got 2,587 (53%) of the vote vs. Fanny Villarreal’s 1,994 votes (41%). Slater won Cayuga County comfortably (1,118 vs. 574) and held a slim edge (1,469 vs. 1,420) in Onondaga County, a dramatic rejection of the party’s leadership and its choice of a longstanding community leader.

Villarreal has conceded, said her campaign manager, Will Dawson.

“The voters in Senate District 48 have spoken, and good luck with that guy,” Dawson said.

Slater could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Slater, 27, will now focus on challenging incumbent state Sen. Rachel May, the Democratic Party incumbent for the heavily Democratic district. May will be seeking her fourth term in the fall election.

The GOP candidate has a big enrollment disadvantage to overcome, with 80,717 Democratic …