2018 New York State Senate elections


Elections to the New York State Senate took place on November 6, 2018. Primary elections were held September 13, 2018.
In April 2018, The Wall Street Journal described the State Senate as the "last bastion of power" of the Republican Party in the State of New York. On Election Day, Democrats gained control of the chamber from the Republicans by picking up eight seats. The following day, The New York Times wrote that the Democrats had "decisively evict Republicans from running the State Senate, which they controlled for all but three years since World War II." Enrolled Democrats won 40 of the chamber's 63 seats, including all but one seat in New York City. Brooklyn Senator Simcha Felder, a Democrat who had previously caucused with the Republicans, sought to rejoin the Senate Democratic Conference, but was turned down in December 2018, though he was later accepted into the Democratic caucus on July 1, 2019.
The Democrats' election victories made possible the January 2019 election of Andrea Stewart-Cousins as the first female Majority Leader and Temporary President in the chamber's history.

Party composition

The vote totals for each party were:
PartyVotesPercentageSwing
Democratic3,242,58655.98%4.48%
Republican1,926,12333.25%3.27%
Conservative253,4524.38%0.69%
Independence155,5422.69%0.38%
Working Families143,7762.48%0.40%
Women's Equality33,8350.58%0.11%
Reform25,3620.44%0.12%
Green10,5390.18%0.36%
Stop de Blasio4150.01%New
Upstate Jobs3470.01%New
Tax Revolt2780.00%0.02%

Summary of results

Sources:

Retiring incumbents

Five incumbent Republican senators did not seek re-election in 2018. They were:

In primary

Seven incumbent Senators ran for re-election, but were defeated in the September 13 primaries. They were:
With the exception of Sen. Dilan, all politicians had been members of the Independent Democratic Conference.

In general election

The following Republican incumbents were defeated on Election Day:
The six Democratic members of the IDC who were defeated in the September primaries were also on the ballot in November on either the Independence Party line, the Women's Equality Party line, or both. With the exception of Sen. Avella, none publicly campaigned after being defeated on primary day. None of the six were re-elected.

Detailed results


[|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]

Sources:

District 1

The 1st district consists of roughly the eastern half of Long Island, including East Hampton, Hampton Bays, and Riverhead. Republican incumbent Kenneth LaValle has represented this district since 1977.

District 2

The 2nd district is located on Long Island and includes Centereach, Smithtown, and Stony Brook. Republican Majority Leader John Flanagan has represented this district since 2003.

District 3

The 3rd district is located on Long Island and includes Medford, Ronkonkoma, and Sayville. Republican Thomas Croci has represented this district since 2015. Croci did not run for reelection. Republican Assemblymember Dean Murray and Democrat Monica Martinez ran for election to this seat, and Martinez prevailed.

District 4

The 4th district is located on the South Shore of Long Island including the towns of Babylon and Islip. Republican Phil Boyle has represented this district since 2013.

District 5

The 5th district is located on the North Shore of Long Island including Huntington and Oyster Bay. Republican Carl Marcellino has represented this district since a 1995 special election. After having nearly upset Marcellino in 2016, Democratic challenger Jim Gaughran challenged Marcellino again in 2018 and won.

District 6

The 6th district is located in western Long Island including Garden City, Hempstead, and Levittown. Republican Kemp Hannon has represented this district since a 1989 special election. In an unexpected upset, Democratic challenger Kevin Thomas defeated Hannon.

District 7

The 7th district is made up of the Northern Nassau suburbs, including Manhasset, Mineola, and New Cassel. Republican Elaine Phillips was narrowly elected in 2016. Democrat Anna Kaplan defeated Phillips.

District 8

The 8th district is located on the South Shore of Long Island and includes Amityville, Freeport, and Seaford. Democrat John Brooks was first elected in 2016.

District 9

The 9th district is made up of southwestern Nassau County, including Long Beach, Rockville Centre, and Valley Stream. Democrat Todd Kaminsky was initially elected in a 2016 special election.

Reform primary

General election

District 10

The 10th district includes the southern neighborhoods of Queens, such as Richmond Hill & Springfield Gardens, as well as parts of the Rockaway Peninsula including Arverne and Edgemere. Democrat James Sanders Jr. has represented this district since 2013.

District 11

The 11th district is located in the northeast suburbs of Queens, including the neighborhoods of Bayside, College Point, and Little Neck. Democrat Tony Avella, a member of the former IDC, has represented this district since 2011. Avella was defeated by John Liu in the Democratic primary, but remained in the race on third-party lines. On Election Day, Liu prevailed.

Democratic primary

General election

District 12

The 12th district is located in Queens, including the neighborhoods of Astoria, Long Island City, and Sunnyside. Democrat Michael Gianaris has represented this district since 2011.

Reform primary

General election

District 13

The 13th district is located in Queens, including the neighborhoods of Corona, East Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights. Democrat Jose Peralta, a member of the former IDC, has represented this district since a 2010 special election. Democratic challenger Jessica Ramos won the Democratic primary and the general election.

Democratic primary

District 14

The 14th district is centered around the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica, and also includes Laurelton and St. Albans. Democrat Leroy Comrie has represented this district since 2015.

District 15

The 15th district includes the central neighborhoods of Queens, such as Middle Village & Ozone Park, and the western half of the Rockaway Peninsula. Democrat Joseph Addabbo Jr. has represented this district since 2009.

Republican primary

Reform primary

General election

District 16

The 16th district contains the Queens neighborhoods of Elmhurst and Flushing. Democrat Toby Ann Stavisky has represented this district since 1999.

District 17

The 17th district is located in southwestern Brooklyn, including the neighborhoods of Borough Park, Kensington, and Midwood. Democrat Simcha Felder, a Democrat that has caucused with the Republicans from 2013 to 2018, has represented this district since 2013.

Democratic primary

District 18

The 18th district includes the northern Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bushwick, Cypress Hills, and Williamsburg. Democrat Martin Malave Dilan has represented this district since 2013. He previously represented the 17th District from 2003-2012. Democrat Julia Salazar won the Democratic primary and the general election.

Democratic primary

District 19

The 19th district is located in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Canarsie, East New York, and parts of Sheepshead Bay. Democrat Roxanne Persaud was initially elected in a 2015 special election.

District 20

The 20th district is centered around the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights. It also includes parts of Brownsville and Sunset Park. Democrat Jesse Hamilton, a member of the former IDC, has represented this district since 2015. Democratic challenger Zellnor Myrie won the Democratic primary and the general election.

Democratic primary

District 21

The 21st district includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of East Flatbush, Flatlands, and Park Slope. Democrat Kevin Parker has represented this district since 2003.

District 22

The 22nd district is located in southwestern Brooklyn, including Dyker Heights and Manhattan Beach. Republican Martin Golden has represented this district since 2003. Democratic challenger Andrew Gounardes defeated Ross Barkan in the Democratic primary and narrowly defeated Golden in the general election.

Democratic primary

District 23

The 23rd district includes the southwestern Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bath Beach & Coney Island, as well as parts of the North Shore neighborhoods of Staten Island, such as Port Richmond and Stapleton. Democrat Diane Savino, a member of the former IDC, has represented this district since 2005.

Democratic primary

General election

District 24

The 24th district contains the majority of Staten Island, including the South Shore neighborhoods of Annadale and Pleasant Plains. Republican Andrew Lanza has represented this district since 2007.

District 25

The 25th district includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bedford–Stuyvesant and Red Hook. Democrat Velmanette Montgomery has represented this district since 1983. She previously represented the 18th District from 1993-2012 and the 22nd District from 1985-1992.

District 26

The 26th district includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights & Greenpoint, as well as a significant portion of Lower Manhattan, including the Financial District, SoHo, and Tribeca. Democrat Brian Kavanagh was first elected in a 2017 special election.

Reform primary

General election

District 27

The 27th district includes the Lower Manhattan neighborhoods of East Village & Greenwich Village, as well as parts of Midtown Manhattan, such as Hell's Kitchen & the Garment District. Democrat Brad Hoylman has represented this district since 2013.

District 28

The 28th district includes the Manhattan neighborhoods of Murray Hill and the Upper East Side. Democrat Liz Krueger has represented this district since 2013. She previously represented the 26th District from 2002-2012.

Independence primary

General election

District 29

The 29th district includes the Manhattan neighborhoods of parts of the Upper West Side & Yorkville, and parts of southern The Bronx including Highbridge & Mott Haven. Democrat José M. Serrano has represented this district since 2013. He previously represented the 28th District from 2005 to 2012.

District 30

The 30th district is located in Upper Manhattan and includes Hamilton Heights and Harlem. Democrat Brian Benjamin was initially elected in a 2017 special election.

District 31

The 31st district stretches along the western coast of Manhattan, spanning across the Hudson River, taking in Inwood, Washington Heights, and parts of Hell's Kitchen and the Upper West Side. Democrat Marisol Alcantara, a member of the former IDC, was initially elected in 2016. Democrat Robert Jackson defeated Alcantara in the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election.

Democratic primary

District 32

The 32nd district is located in south Bronx, including Castle Hill, and parts of Hunts Point and Parkchester. Democrat Luis Sepúlveda has represented this district since winning a special election in April 2018.

District 33

The 33rd district is located in West Bronx, including Fordham Heights and Tremont. Democrat Gustavo Rivera has represented this district since 2011.

District 34

The 34th district includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Riverdale and Schuylerville, as well as some inner suburbs of New York City, including Pelham and parts of Mount Vernon. Democrat Jeff Klein, the leader of the former IDC, has represented this district since 2005. Democrat Alessandra Biaggi defeated Klein in the Democratic primary and won the general election.

Democratic primary

District 35

The 35th district is located in the inner suburbs of New York City, including Greenburgh, Yonkers, and parts of New Rochelle. Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Senate Minority Leader, has represented this district since 2007.

Democratic primary

District 36

The 36th district includes the northern neighborhoods of the Bronx, including Norwood, Wakefield, and Williamsbridge, as well as the majority of Mount Vernon. Democrat Jamaal Bailey was initially elected in 2016.

District 37

The 37th district is located in the New York City suburbs, including the towns of Bedford, Eastchester, Rye. Democrat Shelley Mayer has represented this district since winning a special election in April 2018.

District 38

The 38th district is located within the New York City suburbs of Briarcliff Manor and Clarkstown. Democrat David Carlucci, a former member of the Independent Democratic Conference, was first elected in 2010. Like other former IDC members, Carlucci received a Democratic primary challenge in 2018. After defeating Julie Goldberg in the primary, Carlucci turned back Republican Scott Vanderhoef in the general election.

Democratic primary

District 39

The 39th district is located in the Hudson Valley region, including Crawford, Marlborough, and Stony Point. Republican Sen. William J. Larkin Jr. did not seek re-election. Democratic Assemblymember James Skoufis defeated Republican Tom Basile in the general election.

Reform primary

General election

District 40

The 40th district is located in the Hudson Valley, including Beekman, Carmel, and New Castle. Republican Terrence Murphy has represented this district since 2015. Murphy was challenged by Democrat Peter Harckham. As of November 8, Murphy had not conceded the race, and Harckham led Murphy by 2,121 votes. Harckham defeated Murphy by 3,834 votes.

Democratic primary

General election

District 41

The 41st district is located in the Hudson Valley, including Philipstown, Poughkeepsie, and Stanford. Republican Susan J. Serino has represented this district since 2015. As of November 8, Democratic candidate Karen Smythe had not conceded the race, although she trailed Serino by 2,146 votes. Smythe conceded on December 3, 2018.

District 42

The 42nd district is located in the Hudson Valley, including Liberty, Middletown, and New Paltz. Republican John Bonacic, who has represented this district since 1999, did not seek re-election, and was succeeded by Democrat Jen Metzger.

Democratic primary

General election

District 43

The 43rd district is located in the Capital District, including the eastern suburbs of Albany, such as East Greenbush, as well as Hudson, Saratoga Springs, and Schaghticoke. Republican Kathy Marchione, who had represented this district since 2013, did not seek re-election, and was succeeded by fellow Republican Daphne Jordan.

District 44

The 44th district is centered around the state capital, Albany, and the surrounding suburbs including: Bethlehem, Colonie, and Troy. Democrat Neil Breslin has represented this district since 1997.

District 45

The 45th district is located in rural Upstate New York, specifically the North Country region, including Malone, Plattsburgh, and Queensbury. Republican Betty Little has represented this district since 2003.

District 46

The 46th district takes in areas of the Capital District, such as Amsterdam & Rotterdam, as well as parts of the Hudson Valley, including Kingston & Woodstock. Republican George Amedore has represented this district since 2015.

District 47

The 47th district starts in Central New York, including, Rome & Utica, and then spans into the rural North Country, taking in Lowville & Potsdam. Republican Joseph Griffo has represented this district since 2007.

District 48

The 48th district runs along the New York-Ontario border near Lake Ontario, including Ogdensburg, Oswego, and Watertown. Republican Patricia Ritchie has represented this district since 2011.

District 49

The 49th district is located in the greater the Capital District and is centered around the outer Albany suburbs. It includes Malta and part of the City of Schenectady. The district also takes in the parts of North Country, such as rural areas of Hamilton County and Herkimer County. Republican Jim Tedisco was first elected to represent District 49 in 2016.

Reform primary

General election

District 50

The 50th district is located within the Syracuse metropolitan area, including the Syracuse suburbs of Clay and Manlius, as well as a majority of Auburn. Republican John DeFrancisco has represented this district since 1993 and did not seek re-election. As of November 7, 2018, Republican Bob Antonacci led Democrat John Mannion by 2,829 votes and declared victory in the race, although absentee ballots remained to be counted. On November 21, 2018, elections officials confirmed Antonacci's victory.

District 51

The 51st district is located in South-Central New York and includes Cortland, Herkimer, and Oneonta. Republican James Seward has represented this district since 1987.

District 52

The 52nd district is located in the Southern Tier region and is centered around Binghamton and the surrounding areas including Chenango and Oxford. Republican Fred Akshar has represented this district since 2015.

District 53

The 53rd district is centered around Syracuse and the surrounding area including: Chittenango, Cicero, and Oneida. Democrat David Valesky, a member of the IDC, has represented this district since 2005. Democrat Rachel May defeated Valesky in the Democratic primary and won the general election.

Democratic primary

District 54

The 54th district is located in the Finger Lakes region and includes Canandaigua, Geneva, and Seneca Falls. Republican Pam Helming was initially elected in 2016.

District 55

The 55th district is located in the Rochester metropolitan area, including roughly the eastern half of Rochester, and the surrounding suburbs including Irondequoit and Mendon. This district also stretches down into Naples and Richmond. Republican Richard Funke has represented this district since 2015.

District 56

The 56th district is centered around parts of Rochester and the surrounding suburbs including: Greece, Hamlin, and Parma. Republican Joseph Robach has represented this district since 2003.

District 57

The 57th district is located in the Southern Tier region, including: Alfred, Jamestown, and Olean. Republican Catharine Young has represented this district since 2005.

District 58

The 58th district is located in the Southern Tier region, including: Elmira, Hornell, and Ithaca. Republican Tom O'Mara has represented this district since 2011.

Democratic primary

District 59

The 59th district stretches from the Rochester suburbs of Avon and Henrietta westward into parts of the Buffalo suburbs of Aurora & West Seneca. Republican Patrick Gallivan has represented this district since 2011.

District 60

The 60th district is located in the Buffalo metropolitan area, centered around the Buffalo suburbs along the shore of Lake Erie, including Evans, Grand Island, and Tonawanda. Republican Chris Jacobs has represented this district since 2017.

District 61

The 61st district is primarily located within the Finger Lakes region, stretching from parts of Rochester to Batavia, Le Roy, and the outer Buffalo suburbs of Amherst and Clarence. Republican Michael Ranzenhofer has represented this district since 2009.

District 62

The 62nd district is located in Western New York, including the outer Rochester suburbs, such as Sweden, stretching west into Albion, Lockport, and Niagara Falls. Republican Robert Ortt has represented this district since 2015.

District 63

The 63rd district is centered around the city of Buffalo and the immediate surrounding suburbs of Cheektowaga and Lackawanna. Democrat Tim Kennedy has represented this district since 2011.

Democratic primary

Aftermath

One question that remained after the election results came in was which caucus Democratic Senator Simcha Felder would join. Felder, since his first election in 2012, has been a member of the Republican majority, in order to deliver results to his heavily Jewish district, particularly education funding for yeshivas. After the dissolution of the Independent Democratic Conference and the rejoining of its seven members into the mainline caucus, Felder remained with the Republicans as the decisive vote for control. Felder maintained throughout his tenure that he would rejoin the Democrats if doing so would benefit his district, but after the overwhelming Democratic win in 2018, the Democratic conference disallowed him from joining the new majority.