Cayuga County’s Chief Assistant District Attorney has announced his candidacy for Cayuga County Judge.
Christopher Valdina announced he is seeking the Republican and Conservative Parties’ nominations ahead of the November election.
“Over the past 27 years, I have worked closely with law enforcement, crime victims, and witnesses to protect our community and pursue justice,” Valdina said. “Those experiences have reinforced how profoundly court decisions affect real people and real families. As our Cayuga County Court Judge, I will bring legal expertise, fairness, and integrity to the bench.”
A lifelong Cayuga County resident, Valdina is a graduate of Auburn High School, earning a Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell University in 1994 and a Juris Doctor from Boston College Law School in 1997.
In 1998, Valdina was appointed as an Assistant District Attorney for Cayuga County, receiving a promotion to Chief Assistant District Attorney in 2008, where he has served as the county’s chief appellate prosecutor. In 2018, he was named Appellate Prosecutor of the Year by the New York Prosecutors Training Institute.
In 2025, Valdina was sworn in as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and cross-designated to prosecute Federal cases under the supervision of the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
Valdina’s announcement comes days after Judge Thomas Leone announced he would not seek another term as Cayuga County judge. In his candidacy announcement, Valdina expressed his appreciation for Leone’s service.
“Judge Leone has served our community with fairness and integrity for two decades,” Valdina said. “He has always been a pleasure to practice before, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
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