2020 New York State Senate election explained

Election Name:2020 New York State Senate election
Turnout:57.72%
Popular Vote1:4,379,045
Leader1:Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Party1:New York Democratic Party
Leaders Seat1:35th District
Seats Before1:40
Seats1:43
Seat Change1: 3
Percentage1:55.96%
Swing1: 0.02%
Swing2: 0.77%
Majority Leader
Before Election:Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Andrea Stewart-Cousins
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:2,661,869
Country:New York
Seats For Election:All 63 seats in the New York State Senate
Flag Image:Flag of New York (1909–2020).svg
Type:legislative
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2018 New York State Senate election
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2022 New York State Senate election
Next Year:2022
Majority Seats:32
Percentage2:34.02%
Election Date:November 3, 2020
Leader2:Rob Ortt
Party2:New York Republican Party
Leaders Seat2:62nd District
Seats Before2:23
Seats2:20
Seat Change2: 3

The 2020 New York State Senate elections were held on November 3, 2020, to elect representatives from all 63 State Senate districts across the U.S. state of New York.[1] Primary elections were held on June 23, 2020.[2]

Prior to the 2020 elections, Democrats held 40 seats in the State Senate, while Republicans held 20 seats and three other seats were vacant.[3] In 2018, Democrats won their greatest share of New York State Senate seats since 1912.

Senate Democrats increased their majority by three seats, flipping five seats from Republican to Democrat while Republicans flipped two seats from Democrat to Republican. This gave Democrats their largest seat share in history, and they acquired a 2/3 supermajority.[4]

Background

See main article: 2018 New York State Senate election. By 2018, the State Senate was the last Republican-controlled body in the New York government.[5] In the 2018 elections, Democrats gained eight Senate seats, taking control of the chamber from the Republicans.[6] Previously, Republicans had controlled the Senate for all but three years since World War II,[7] and the Democrats' largest share of New York State Senate seats since 1912.[8] At the beginning of the 2019-2020 legislative session, the Senate Democratic Conference held 39 of the chamber's 63 seats.[9] In July 2019, Simcha Felder — who had caucused with the Republicans during their time in the majority — was accepted into the Senate Democratic Conference, giving the Conference a total of 40 members.[10]

During the 2019-2020 session, Republican Bob Antonacci resigned his seat to become a trial court judge; also, eight other members of the Senate Republican Conference announced that they would not seek re-election in 2020.[11] In June, one of those eight Senate Republicans, Senate Minority Leader John J. Flanagan, announced that he would resign from the Senate to take another position.[12] [13] On July 20, 2020, Republican Sen. Chris Jacobs stepped down after being elected to the United States House of Representatives.[14]

Before the 2020 elections, Democrats held 40 seats in the State Senate. Republicans held 20 seats, and three other seats were vacant.[3]

Results

Following the 2020 elections, the New York State Board of Elections noted that county boards of elections "received a historically high number of absentee ballots for the November 3rd 2020 General Election due to the coronavirus pandemic", and added that "unofficial election night results do not include the results of absentee ballot voting".[16] On Election Day, preliminary results showed Republicans leading in most competitive State Senate races.[17] However, absentee ballots trended in favor of the Democrats.[18]

On November 23, 2020, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins asserted that Senate Democrats would enter 2021 with "a supermajority of at least 42 members", giving the party an "unprecedented share" of power in the state Legislature. According to Politico, "the numbers mean that Democratic legislators now have the two-thirds needed in each house to override any vetoes from Gov. Andrew Cuomo without relying on Republican support".[19]

The results of the 2020 Senate elections were certified on December 3, 2020. Democrats won a total of 43 seats, while Republicans won 20.[20] Republican Alexis Weik defeated Democratic incumbent Monica Martinez in the 3rd district,[21] and Republican Mike Martucci defeated Democratic incumbent Jen Metzger in the 42nd district.[18] Democrats Michelle Hinchey,[22] John Mannion,[23] Samra Brouk,[24] Jeremy Cooney,[25] and Sean Ryan[26] won open seats that had previously been held by Republicans.

2020 New York State Senate election results
PartyVotes%% +/–SeatsSeats +/–
Democratic4,379,04555.96% 0.02%43 3
Republican2,661,86934.02% 0.77%200
Conservative331,6024.24% 0.14%
Working Families308,0133.94% 1.46%
Independence108,1391.38% 1.31%
Libertarian20,8600.27% 0.27%
SAM4,6500.06% 0.06%
Green3,1110.04% 0.14%
 Total votes7,824,767100.00%
 Registered voters/turnout13,555,547[27] 57.72%

By district

Bold represents a flip and italics represent a new senator of the same party.

DistrictIncumbentPartyElected SenatorParty<-- Bolding and Italicizing is deliberate. Bold represents a flip and italics represent a new Senator of the same party. -->
1Kenneth LaValleRepAnthony PalumboRep
2(Vacant)RepMario MatteraRep
3Monica MartinezDemAlexis WeikRep
4Phil BoyleRepPhil BoyleRep
5Jim GaughranDemJim GaughranDem
6Kevin ThomasDemKevin ThomasDem
7Anna KaplanDemAnna KaplanDem
8John BrooksDemJohn BrooksDem
9Todd KaminskyDemTodd KaminskyDem
10James Sanders Jr.DemJames Sanders Jr.Dem
11John LiuDemJohn LiuDem
12Michael GianarisDemMichael GianarisDem
13Jessica RamosDemJessica RamosDem
14Leroy ComrieDemLeroy ComrieDem
15Joseph Addabbo Jr.DemJoseph Addabbo Jr.Dem
16Toby Ann StaviskyDemToby Ann StaviskyDem
17Simcha FelderDemSimcha FelderDem
18Julia SalazarDemJulia SalazarDem
19Roxanne PersaudDemRoxanne PersaudDem
20Zellnor MyrieDemZellnor MyrieDem
21Kevin ParkerDemKevin ParkerDem
22Andrew GounardesDemAndrew GounardesDem
23Diane SavinoDemDiane SavinoDem
24Andrew LanzaRepAndrew LanzaRep
25Velmanette MontgomeryDemJabari BrisportDem
26Brian P. KavanaghDemBrian P. KavanaghDem
27Brad HoylmanDemBrad HoylmanDem
28Liz KruegerDemLiz KruegerDem
29Jose M. SerranoDemJose M. SerranoDem
30Brian BenjaminDemBrian BenjaminDem
31Robert JacksonDemRobert JacksonDem
32Luis R. SepúlvedaDemLuis R. SepúlvedaDem
33Gustavo RiveraDemGustavo RiveraDem
34Alessandra BiaggiDemAlessandra BiaggiDem
35Andrea Stewart-CousinsDemAndrea Stewart-CousinsDem
36Jamaal BaileyDemJamaal BaileyDem
37Shelley MayerDemShelley MayerDem
38David CarlucciDemElijah Reichlin-MelnickDem
39James SkoufisDemJames SkoufisDem
40Peter HarckhamDemPeter HarckhamDem
41Sue SerinoRepSue SerinoRep
42Jen MetzgerDemMike MartucciRep
43Daphne JordanRepDaphne JordanRep
44Neil BreslinDemNeil BreslinDem
45Betty LittleRepDan StecRep
46George A. Amedore Jr.RepMichelle HincheyDem
47Joseph GriffoRepJoseph GriffoRep
48Patty RitchieRepPatty RitchieRep
49Jim TediscoRepJim TediscoRep
50(Vacant)RepJohn MannionDem
51James SewardRepPeter OberackerRep
52Fred AksharRepFred AksharRep
53Rachel MayDemRachel MayDem
54Pam HelmingRepPam HelmingRep
55Richard FunkeRepSamra BroukDem
56Joseph RobachRepJeremy CooneyDem
57George BorrelloRepGeorge BorrelloRep
58Tom O'MaraRepTom O'MaraRep
59Patrick GallivanRepPatrick GallivanRep
60(Vacant)RepSean RyanDem
61Michael RanzenhoferRepEdward Rath IIIRep
62Robert OrttRepRobert OrttRep
63Timothy KennedyDemTimothy KennedyDem

Close races

Districts where the margin of victory was under 10%:

Detailed results

align=center District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30 • District 31 • District 32 • District 33 • District 34 • District 35 • District 36 • District 37 • District 38 • District 39 • District 40 • District 41 • District 42 • District 43 • District 44 • District 45 • District 46 • District 47 • District 48 • District 49 • District 50 • District 51 • District 52 • District 53 • District 54 • District 55 • District 56 • District 57 • District 58 • District 59 • District 60 • District 61 • District 62 • District 63

District 1

General election

District 6

General election

District 12

General election

District 13

General election

District 18

General election

District 19

General election

District 23

General election

District 25

General election

District 27

General election

District 31

General election

District 32

General election

District 34

General election

District 38

General election

District 49

General election

District 56

General election

District 61

General election

District 63

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 New York State Senate Election Results | Democrat and Chronicle. www.democratandchronicle.com.
  2. Web site: Lentz. Jon. 2020-08-06. New York's 2020 state legislative primary results. live. 2020-08-31. City & State. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20200625023659/https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/campaigns-elections/new-yorks-2020-state-legislative-primary-results.html . June 25, 2020 .
  3. Web site: Khurshid. Samar. November 5, 2020. The State of Play in the State Senate as the 2020 Election Moves to Counting Absentee Ballots. live. Gotham Gazette. https://web.archive.org/web/20201105123907/https://www.gothamgazette.com/state/9882-state-of-play-new-york-state-senate-2020-election-count-absentee-ballots . November 5, 2020 .
  4. Web site: New York Democrats Tighten Grip on State Senate With Upstate Arrivals. Jimmy. Vielkind. December 14, 2020. www.wsj.com.
  5. News: Vilensky. Mike. King. Kate. April 24, 2018. Democrats Win New York Senate Races. Wall Street Journal. October 23, 2018.
  6. News: Wang. Vivian. 2018-11-07. Democrats Take Control of New York Senate for First Time in Decade. en-US. The New York Times. December 19, 2018. 0362-4331.
  7. News: McKinley. Jesse. Goldmacher. Shane. November 7, 2018. Democrats Finally Control the Power in Albany. What Will They Do With It?. The New York Times. November 12, 2018. 0362-4331.
  8. Web site: The Secret Playbook NY State Senate Democrats Used To 'Wipe The Floor' With Republicans. Runyeon . Frank . November 28, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190730145330/https://gothamist.com/2018/11/28/ny_state_senate_democratss.php. July 30, 2019. July 30, 2019. Gothamist.
  9. Web site: Campbell. Jon. January 9, 2019. History made: Andrea Stewart-Cousins sworn in as NY Senate leader. live. Iohud. https://web.archive.org/web/20190109220732/https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2019/01/09/andrea-stewart-cousins-first-woman-majority-leader/2523999002/ . January 9, 2019 .
  10. Web site: Williams. Zach. July 1, 2019. Turncoat turns back: Simcha Felder joins Democratic state Senate majority. live. City & State. https://web.archive.org/web/20190701235800/https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/new-york-state/simcha-felder-joins-democratic-state-senate-majority . July 1, 2019 .
  11. Web site: Republicans flee the state Senate . City & State New York. Williams . Zach . 2020-01-03 . 2020-02-05.
  12. Web site: Fries. Amanda. June 16, 2020. Senate Minority Leader announces departure for Northwell Health post. live. Laredo Morning Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617053411/https://www.lmtonline.com/news/article/Senate-Minority-Leader-announces-departure-for-15344281.php . June 17, 2020 .
  13. Web site: Fries. Amanda. December 15, 2020. Ortt unanimously reelected as Senate minority leader. live. Times Union. https://web.archive.org/web/20201215155837/https://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/291251/ortt-unanimously-reelected-as-senate-minority-leader/ . December 15, 2020 .
  14. Web site: July 21, 2020. Chris Jacobs to be sworn in Tuesday. live. Lockport Union-Sun & Journal. https://web.archive.org/web/20200722044551/https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/local_news/chris-jacobs-to-be-sworn-in-tuesday/article_df9b0a7b-2142-55d8-baa3-1a2b74bb271a.html . July 22, 2020 .
  15. Web site: October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races. The Cook Political Report. November 1, 2020.
  16. Web site: NYS Board of Elections Unofficial Election Night Results. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20201203014553/https://nyenr.elections.ny.gov/. December 3, 2020. 2020-12-03. New York State Board of Elections.
  17. Web site: Dervishi. Kay. Lewis. Rebecca C.. Williams. Zach. November 3, 2020. 2020 New York state legislative general election results. live. City & State. https://web.archive.org/web/20201104023428/https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/politics/campaigns-elections/2020-new-york-state-legislative-general-election-results.html . November 4, 2020 .
  18. Web site: Martucci, Harckham Win Their NYS Senate Races. November 24, 2020. WAMC.
  19. Web site: Mahoney. Bill. November 23, 2020. Stewart-Cousins claims supermajority for Democrats in state Senate. December 10, 2020. Politico.
  20. Web site: 2020 Election Results. live. December 10, 2020. New York State Board of Elections. https://web.archive.org/web/20200817032325/https://www.elections.ny.gov/2020ElectionResults.html . August 17, 2020 .
  21. Web site: GOP Challenger Weik Unseats Senator Martinez. longislandpress.com . Timothy. Bolger. December 2, 2020.
  22. Web site: Richard Amedure concedes 46th District Senate race to Michelle Hinchey. News10.com . November 24, 2020.
  23. Web site: Renna concedes, sealing historic win for John Mannion. November 30, 2020. Syracuse.com.
  24. Web site: Two first-time state Senate candidates vie to succeed Funke. Smriti. Jacob. October 20, 2020. Rochester Beacon.
  25. Web site: Cooney wins race to take over Robach's seat in 56th Senate District. 13Wham.com . November 18, 2020.
  26. Web site: Key state Senate contest in 60th District pits Mertzlufft against Ryan. Sandra . Tan . The Buffalo News.
  27. Web site: Enrollment by County New York State Board of Elections. live. 2020-12-01. New York State Board of Elections. https://web.archive.org/web/20120108024019/http://www.elections.ny.gov:80/EnrollmentCounty.html . January 8, 2012 .