New York State Senate elections, 2020

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2020 New York Senate Elections
General	November 3, 2020
Primary	June 23, 2020

Past Election Results

2018・2016・2014 2012・2010・2008

2020 Elections
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New York Democrats gained a supermajority in the 2020 Senate elections. All 63 Senate seats were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Democrats had a 40-20 majority with three seats vacant. Democrats gained a net three seats, leaving the post-election partisan balance at 43-20. A 42-seat majority is required to override a governor's veto.

The New York State Senate was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. All 63 seats in the New York State Senate were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.

New York's 2020 state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In New York, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

New York modified its absentee/mail-in voting and candidate filing procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election as follows:

• Absentee/mail-in voting: Absentee voting eligibility in the general election was extended to any voter who was "unable to appear personally at the polling place of the election district in which they are a qualified voter because there is a risk of contracting or spreading a disease causing illness to the voter or to other members of the public." The state launched an absentee ballot request portal.
• Candidate filing procedures: The filing deadline for independent nominating petitions was extended to July 30, 2020.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

Party control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates and State government trifectas

New York State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2020	After November 4, 2020
	Democratic Party	40	43
	Republican Party	20	20
	Vacancy	3	0
Total		63	63

General election

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Primary election

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Incumbents who were not re-elected

See also: Annual State Legislative Competitiveness Report: Vol. 10, 2020

Incumbents defeated in the general election

Two incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election. Those incumbents were:

Name	Party	Office
Monica Martinez	Democratic	Senate District 3
Jen Metzger	Democratic	Senate District 42

Incumbents defeated in primary elections

No incumbents lost in the June 23 primary elections. In 2018, seven incumbents were defeated in primary elections.

Retiring incumbents

There were 12 open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020. Those incumbents were:

Name	Party	Office
Kenneth LaValle	Republican	Senate District 1
John J. Flanagan	Republican	Senate District 2
Velmanette Montgomery	Democratic	Senate District 25
David Carlucci	Democratic	Senate District 38
Betty Little	Republican	Senate District 45
George Amedore	Republican	Senate District 46
Bob Antonacci	Republican	Senate District 50
James L. Seward	Republican	Senate District 51
Rich Funke	Republican	Senate District 55
Joseph Robach	Republican	Senate District 56
Christopher Jacobs	Republican	Senate District 60
Michael Ranzenhofer	Republican	Senate District 61

The 12 seats left open in 2020 represented the highest number of open seats within the preceding decade. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.

Open Seats in New York State Senate elections: 2010 - 2020
Year	Total seats	Open seats	Seats with incumbents running for re-election
2020	63	12 (19 percent)	51 (81 percent)
2018	63	5 (8 percent)	58 (92 percent)
2016	63	5 (8 percent)	58 (92 percent)
2014	63	3 (5 percent)	60 (95 percent)
2012	63	2 (3 percent)	61 (97 percent)
2010	63	5 (8 percent)	58 (92 percent)

Process to become a candidate

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in New York

See statutes: Article 6 of the New York Election Law

For political party candidates

Political party candidates seeking placement on the primary ballot must be nominated via designating petitions. Sample forms are provided by the New York State Board of Elections. A party may nominate a non-enrolled member by filing a certificate of authorization, signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the meeting at which such authorization was given. Only enrolled party members may sign designating petitions. Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. Generally speaking, a candidate must collect signatures equaling at least 5 percent of the number of active enrolled voters in the political unit (e.g., the state for statewide offices, such as governor; the legislative district for state senate or assembly districts; etc.), or a fixed total established by statute, whichever is less.

Designating petitions must be submitted to the appropriate county board of elections, with the following exceptions:

• If the political unit of the office being sought lies entirely within New York City, the petition must be filed with the city board of elections.
• If the political unit of the office being sought comprises more than one county or portions of two or more counties, the petition must be filed with the New York State Board of Elections.

Designating petitions must be filed between the 10th Monday and ninth Tuesday prior to the primary election. A candidate must file a certificate of acceptance or declination of the designation no later than the fourth day after the last day to file designating petitions.

Enrolled party members may also circulate petitions to allow for the opportunity to write in a candidate for an office for which there is no contest for the party nomination at the primary. These are called opportunity to ballot petitions and are substantially the same as designating petitions (i.e., the petitions are held to the same signature and filing requirements, etc.), except that they do not require a candidate to be named.

For independent candidates

Independent candidates seeking placement the general election ballot must be nominated via nominating petitions. Sample forms are provided by the New York State Board of Elections.

The group of voters making the nomination may designate a name for themselves, provided the name is rendered in English and does not suggest similarity with an existing political party or a political organization that has already filed a nominating petition.

Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. Generally speaking, candidates must collect signatures equaling at least 5 percent of the total number of votes cast for governor within the political unit at the last gubernatorial election, or a fixed total established by statute, whichever is less.

Nominating petitions must be submitted to the appropriate county board of elections, with the following exceptions:

• If the political unit of the office being sought lies entirely within New York City, the petition must be filed with the city board of elections.
• If the political unit of the office being sought comprises more than one county or portions of two or more counties, the petition must be filed with the New York State Board of Elections.

According to New York election law, "A petition for an independent nomination for an office to be filled at the time of a general election shall be filed not earlier than twenty-four weeks and not later than twenty-three weeks preceding such election.” A certificate of acceptance or declination of an independent nomination for an office that will be filled in the general election must be filed by the third day after the deadline for nominating petitions.

Write-in candidates

A write-in candidate for president or vice-president must file a certificate of candidacy with the New York State Board of Elections. Write-in candidates for other federal or state offices do not have to submit any filing paperwork.

2020 ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for New York State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
New York State Senate	Qualified party	300	N/A	4/2/2020	Source
New York State Senate	Unaffiliated	3,000	N/A	5/26/2020	Source

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article 3, Section 7 of the New York Constitution states: No person shall serve as a member of the legislature unless he or she is a citizen of the United States and has been a resident of the state of New York for five years, and, except as hereinafter otherwise prescribed, of the assembly or senate district for the twelve months immediately preceding his or her election; if elected a senator or member of assembly at the first election next ensuing after a readjustment or alteration of the senate or assembly districts becomes effective, a person, to be eligible to serve as such, must have been a resident of the county in which the senate or assembly district is contained for the twelve months immediately preceding his or her election. No member of the legislature shall, during the time for which he or she was elected, receive any civil appointment from the governor, the governor and the senate, the legislature or from any city government, to an office which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time.

Salaries and per diem

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2024
Salary	Per diem
$142,000/year	The exact amount members receive for per diem is unknown.

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

New York legislators assume office the first day of January after a general election.

New York political history

Trifectas

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.

New York Party Control: 1992-2024
Eight years of Democratic trifectas  •  No Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D
Senate	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D
Assembly	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D

Presidential politics in New York

2016 Presidential election results

U.S. presidential election, New York, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes	Electoral votes
	Democratic	Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine	59%	4,556,124	29
	Republican	Donald Trump/Mike Pence	36.5%	2,819,534	0
	Green	Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka	1.4%	107,934	0
	Libertarian	Gary Johnson/Bill Weld	2.3%	176,598	0
	-	Write-in votes/Other	0.8%	61,263	0
Total Votes				7,721,453	29
Election results via: Federal Election Commission

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. New York utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for primary and general elections. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in New York, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county, city, or village for at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 18 years old by the date of the election. People who are in prison for a felony conviction and those who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court are ineligible to register to vote. One cannot register to vote in New York while claiming the right to vote elsewhere. Pre-registration is available beginning at the age of 16.

Registration applications are available at the county board of elections or any agency-based voter registration center. Forms are also available online, or prospective voters can request the form by mail. Completed forms returned by mail must be postmarked at least 25 days prior to the election.

The form must then be received by election officials at least 10 days before the election. A registration done in person must be completed at least 10 days prior to the election. Residents may also register to vote online through the DMV Electronic Voter Registration Application. These applications are forwarded to the board of elections; applicants should allow up to six weeks for processing.

Automatic registration

New York automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through a number of state agencies including the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Health, the Department of Labor, and others.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

New York has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

New York does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

In order to register to vote in New York, applicants must reside in the county, city, or village in which they are registering for at least 30 days prior to the election.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

New York does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, voter who submits false information "can be convicted and fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed for up to four years."

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. As of November 2024, five states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The New York State Board of Elections allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

New York does not require voters to present identification while voting. However, if a voter does not provide valid identification at the time of registration, he or she must show identification at the polling place when voting for the first time

Voters can present the following forms of identification:

• A current, valid photo ID, including but not limited to a drivers' license or a DMV-issued non-driver photo ID
• A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with the voter's name and address

Early voting

New York permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

New York offers early mail voting and absentee voting.

Any registered voter may vote an early mail ballot. To vote an absentee ballot, a voter must be:

“

Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day. Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability. Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled. A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital. In jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction. This includes anyone who is awaiting grand jury action, awaiting trial, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor.

”

Applications for early mail ballots and absentee ballots must be received by the county board of elections at least ten days before an election, unless the application is submitted in person by the day before the election.

Early mail ballots and absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the county board of elections by the seventh day after the election. Ballots may be returned in person to the county board of elections by the close of polls on Election Day or to a polling place during the early voting period or on Election Day.

See also

• New York State Senate
• New York State Legislature
• State legislative elections, 2020

External links

Suggest a link

• New York State Legislature

Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the New York State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Minority Leader:Robert Ortt

Senators

District 1

Anthony Palumbo (R)

District 2

Mario Mattera (R)

District 3

Dean Murray (R)

District 4

Monica Martinez (D)

District 5

Steven Rhoads (R)

District 6

Kevin Thomas (D)

District 7

Jack Martins (R)

District 8

Alexis Weik (R)

District 9

Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R)

District 10

James Sanders (D)

District 11

Toby Stavisky (D)

District 12

Michael Gianaris (D)

District 13

Jessica Ramos (D)

District 14

Leroy Comrie (D)

District 15

Joseph Addabbo (D)

District 16

John Liu (D)

District 17

Iwen Chu (D)

District 18

Julia Salazar (D)

District 19

Roxanne Persaud (D)

District 20

Zellnor Myrie (D)

District 21

Kevin Parker (D)

District 22

Simcha Felder (D)

District 23

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D)

District 24

Andrew Lanza (R)

District 25

Jabari Brisport (D)

District 26

Andrew Gounardes (D)

District 27

Brian Kavanagh (D)

District 28

Liz Krueger (D)

District 29

Jose Serrano (D)

District 30

Cordell Cleare (D)

District 31

Robert Jackson (D)

District 32

Luis Sepúlveda (D)

District 33

J. Rivera (D)

District 34

Nathalia Fernandez (D)

District 35

Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D)

District 36

Jamaal Bailey (D)

District 37

Shelley Mayer (D)

District 38

William Weber (R)

District 39

Robert Rolison (R)

District 40

Peter Harckham (D)

District 41

Michelle Hinchey (D)

District 42

James Skoufis (D)

District 43

Jacob Ashby (R)

District 44

James Tedisco (R)

District 45

Daniel Stec (R)

District 46

Neil Breslin (D)

District 47

Brad Hoylman (D)

District 48

Rachel May (D)

District 49

Mark Walczyk (R)

District 50

John Mannion (D)

District 51

Peter Oberacker (R)

District 52

Lea Webb (D)

District 53

Joseph Griffo (R)

District 54

Pamela Helming (R)

District 55

Samra Brouk (D)

District 56

Jeremy Cooney (D)

District 57

George Borrello (R)

District 58

Thomas O'Mara (R)

District 59

Kristen Gonzalez (D)

District 60

Patrick Gallivan (R)

District 61

Sean Ryan (D)

District 62

Robert Ortt (R)

District 63

Vacant

Democratic Party (41)

Republican Party (21)

Vacancies (1)