2012 New York State Senate election

2012 New York State Senate election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect members to the New York State Senate, with Democratic and Republican candidates competing for 63 seats. The election was part of the 2012 United States elections, which included the 2012 United States presidential election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, as well as elections for the United States House of Representatives, such as the New York's 18th congressional district election between Sean Patrick Maloney and Nan Hayworth. The New York State Assembly election was also held on the same day, with candidates like Sheldon Silver and Carl Heastie running for office.

Background

The 2012 New York State Senate election was significant, as it determined the balance of power in the New York State Senate, which had been controlled by the Republican caucus since 2011, with leaders like Dean Skelos and Jeff Klein. The election also saw the involvement of various interest groups, including the National Rifle Association of America and the New York State United Teachers, which endorsed candidates like Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul. The Democratic caucus, led by John Sampson and Michael Gianaris, aimed to regain control of the Senate, while the Republican caucus sought to maintain its majority, with the support of Independence Party of New York and Conservative Party of New York State.

Candidates

The election featured a range of candidates, including incumbents like Eric Adams and Martin Golden, as well as challengers like Simcha Felder and Kevin Parker. The Democratic candidates included Liz Krueger, who ran against David Storobin, and Tony Avella, who faced Halloran, Dan. The Republican candidates included Greg Ball, who ran against Justin Wagner, and Mark Grisanti, who faced Charles Swanick. Other parties, such as the Working Families Party and the Green Party of New York State, also fielded candidates, including Cecilia Tkaczyk and Mark Dunlea.

Election Results

The election results showed a shift in the balance of power in the New York State Senate, with the Democratic caucus gaining seats, thanks in part to the support of Barack Obama and Kirsten Gillibrand. The Republican caucus, however, maintained a narrow majority, with the help of Independence Party of New York and Conservative Party of New York State. The election also saw the emergence of the Independent Democratic Conference, led by Jeff Klein and Diane Savino, which formed a coalition with the Republican caucus. The results were influenced by various factors, including the 2012 United States presidential election and the New York State Assembly election, which featured candidates like Sheldon Silver and Carl Heastie.

District Results

The district results showed a mix of incumbent victories and upsets, with candidates like Eric Adams and Martin Golden winning re-election, while others, like David Storobin, lost their seats. The results in key districts, such as the 46th district, where Cecilia Tkaczyk ran against George Amedore, and the 55th district, where Ted O'Brien faced Sean Hanna, were closely watched, as they had significant implications for the balance of power in the New York State Senate. Other districts, such as the 17th district, where Simcha Felder ran against Kevin Parker, and the 23rd district, where Diane Savino faced Lisa Grey, also saw competitive races, with candidates like Andrew Cuomo and Kathy Hochul endorsing various contenders.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the election saw the formation of a coalition government in the New York State Senate, with the Independent Democratic Conference and the Republican caucus working together, despite the Democratic caucus having a numerical majority, thanks in part to the support of Barack Obama and Kirsten Gillibrand. The coalition was led by Dean Skelos and Jeff Klein, and included members like Diane Savino and David Valesky. The election results also had implications for the 2013 New York State Budget, which was negotiated by Andrew Cuomo, Sheldon Silver, and Dean Skelos, and included provisions related to New York State education and New York State healthcare. The election also set the stage for future elections, including the 2014 New York State Senate election and the 2016 United States presidential election, which would feature candidates like Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Category:2012 United States elections