Democratic candidates swept New York’s statewide offices, while “down ballot” races were more mixed, with several races too close to call.
Kathy Hochul, who became Governor following the resignation of Andrew Cuomo in August 2021, won a full term—becoming the first elected female governor in the state’s history—over Republican challenger Lee Zeldin. Likewise, incumbent State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and incumbent Attorney General Letitia James were re-elected.
In the state legislature, it appears that there were some net losses to the Democratic majorities in the Senate and the Assembly, but not enough to threaten their firm control of those bodies—although it could deprive one or both of their supermajorities (i.e., holding two-thirds of the seats in their respective houses). The results were especially mixed in the state Senate, where Democrats picked up one open seat comprising parts of Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens; hold a narrow advantage in two other open seats (one in the Southern Tier and one in Brooklyn); and won two races where districts were combined through the recent redistricting process (one in Western New York and one in the Hudson Valley). At the same time, Republicans appear to have picked up seats on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, although a few of those races and a seat in the Syracuse region are still too close to call. In the state Assembly, several Democratic incumbents appear to have lost or are in tight races on Long Island and in parts of Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island.
New York State also features prominently in the federal elections, particularly as the majorities for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives remain undecided. As expected, Democratic U.S. Senator and Majority Leader Charles Schumer won a fifth term and is now poised to become the state’s longest-serving U.S. senator. Conversely, Republicans have been particularly competitive in races for the U.S. House of Representatives, potentially picking up seats on Long Island and in the Hudson Valley, although a few of the races remain close.
Because absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day and perhaps a number of disputed ballots may still be left to be counted, the ultimate outcomes of some races may not be known for a few days, at a minimum. An additional, more detailed report of the outcomes will follow once all of the ballots are counted.