New York voters turned out in record numbers for the 2018 mid-term elections, as they did across the country. The predicted “blue wave” resulted in Democrats wresting control of the New York State Senate from the Republicans for the first time since 2009- 2010. Additionally, the results of several New York Congressional races contributed to the Democrats taking the majority in the House of Representatives.
Governor Andrew Cuomo was re-elected to a third term in a decisive victory over Republican challenger and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro. Cuomo won 59% of the vote as opposed to Molinaro’s 36.8%, a margin larger than polls predicted.
The majority of Governor Cuomo’s support came from downstate New York (New York City, Long Island, Westchester County and Rockland County). Governor Cuomo also received the majority of votes in traditionally Democratic areas surrounding Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Albany, while Molinaro beat Cuomo in rural upstate counties throughout New York.
In the race for Attorney General, current Democratic New York City Public Advocate Leticia James easily defeated Keith Wofford 61.9% to 35.7%. With this victory, James becomes the first woman in New York to be elected to a statewide office as well as the first African-American woman to serve as Attorney General.
In perhaps the least publicized statewide race, fifteen year incumbent Comptroller Thomas Dinapoli soundly defeated Republican challenger Jonathan Trichter by more than 2 million votes.
As mentioned above, beginning January 1, 2019, Democrats will hold the majority in the New York State Senate. Democrats have secured 39 (not counting Senator Simcha Felder who previously caucused with the Republican conference) of the 63 Senate seats. At this point, the Republican Conference holds 23 seats.
The new Senate Democratic majority is due in large part to a strong showing on Long Island where they will hold six Senate seates. Prior to this election, Democrats held just two of the nine Senate seats representing Nassau and Suffolk counties.
In the Assembly, 19 new members were elected. The Assembly Democrats retained their super majority with 107 seats, while the Assembly Republicans picked up one seat, bringing their total to 43 seats.
On the Federal level, United States Senator Kristin Gillibrand soundly defeated Chele Farley.
Democrats secured an additional 3 seats in the House of Representatives, bringing their total in New York to 21.
The 2019 Legislative Session will commence the first week in January. We anticipate a very intense, dynamic Session with the new Senate Majority assigning new leadership positions, committee chairs, staff assignments, as well as developing budget/policy priorities as a Majority.
Full election results can be viewed by clicking on the link below: