New York State: Senate races to shape agenda; “We will elect a Democratic progressive socialist Senate that’s focused on changing people’s lives at their roots”

a12iggymom's Blog

Majority control is up for grabs

KEY SENATE RACES

It takes 32 seats to win a majority in the 63-seat state Senate, and Democrats and Republicans are closely divided. A few key races will determine the power structure. Here are some of them.

55 th District: Sen. Ted O’Brien, D-Irondequoit, is seeking a second term against Republican Rich Funke, a retired TV anchorman. O’Brien won an open seat in 2012 after Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton, didn’t seek another term in a district that runs from the city of Rochester into northern Ontario County.

40th District: It’s an open seat being vacated by Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, Putnam County. It’s a battleground district that stretches across Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Democrat Justin Wagner, who narrowly lost to Ball in 2012, faces Republican Terrence Murphy, a Yorktown councilman.

41 st District: Sen. Terry Gipson, D-Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, is seeking a second…

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