“The genius of the United States is not best or most in its executives or legislatures, nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges, or churches, or parlors, nor even in its newspapers or inventors, but always most in the common people.”      Walt Whitman

Inform

The Status of State Elections Nationwide 

Democrats are working hard  to gain back statehouses across the country during next week’s  elections.Republicans have consistently gained seats and control at the state level. They control both the House and Senate chambers in 31 states, while the Democrats are in control of only 14.  Republicans control 66 of the 99 state level legislatures, while the Democrats have control of 31. 

The present focus is on the five divided state legislatures where just a few seats in once chamber can give them the majority: Colorado, New York, Michigan, Maine and New Hampshire.  Other states to watch include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona and Florida.   

The State of New York Elections 2018

Your state representatives have offices within the community so they can represent your concerns and needs.  Here is a sampling of issues (in alphabetical order) from New York State Senate and Assembly sites that are important to fellow New York residents : 

• affordable health care, NY Health Act, prescription price fixing
• cleaning up corruption
• combating sexual harassment
• disability rights
• environment protection for air, water and soil, renewable energy, opposition to offshore drilling, protecting aquifers, clean energy that creates local jobs and protects the environment, wastewater treatment
• gun laws, protection from gun violence
• incentivizing homegrown industries
• infrastructure improvements including public transportation like LIRR
• LGBTQ rights
• local development
• lower property taxes, SALT relief
• medical marijuana
• opioid crisis
• overdevelopment
• public education
• reproductive rights
• senior citizen protection and support
• skilled manufacturing and advanced technology jobs 
• small business investments
• sustaining small farms
• veteran support
• voting procedures

The New York State Senate

There are 63 seats in the New York Senate and all are up for re-election. Sixty-three Assembly districts are divided among 62 New York counties. Each of the senate districts have an average population of 307,500.  The New York State Senate will help you confirm your State Senate district and its candidates for office. 

Republicans control the New York State Senate with a narrow 32-31 majority with the support of Democrat State Senator Simcha Felder who caucuses with them.  Flipping a single net seat from red to blue in November would put Democrats in control of the entire state government for the first time since 2010.

Election Results: Democrats have won 37 seats. Three seats leaning Democrat but still undecided.  Republicans won 21 seats. Two seats leaning Republican, but still undecided. 

Respond

Volunteer if a Democratic candidate is local, or within driving distance. This can take the form of phone banking (can be done at home), canvasing, and/or  fundraising. Participate in activities to Get Out The Vote.

Donate to all or a few critical senate and assembly races.  Many of us have donated to races outside of our own state. No amount is too small. Find the blank section of the donation section and add your own amount.

LIKELY DEMOCRAT (1)
District 9 County: Nassau Election Results: Democrat (62 vs 38)
+ Support State Senator Todd Kaminsky (D)

TOSS UP (4)

District 5 Counties: Nassau & Suffolk  Election Results: Democrat (54 vs 46)
^, ^^, + Support Democrat Candidate James Gaughran

District 7 County: Nassau Support Election Results: Democrat (55 vs 45)
^Support Democrat Candidate Anna Kaplan

District 8 Counties: Nassau & Suffolk Election Results: Democrat (55 vs 45)
^, ^^, + Support State Senator John E. Brooks (D)  

District 39 Counties: Orange, Rockland, and Ulster
Election Results: Democrat (54 vs 47)
^^Support Democrat Candidate James Skoufis

LEAN REPUBLICAN (3)

District 22 County: Kings Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
^^Support Democrat Candidate Andrew Gounardes

District 42 Counties: Delaware, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster
Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
^Support Democrat Candidate Jen Metzger  

District 50 Counties: Cayuga and Onondaga
Election Results: Republican (51 vs 49)
^Support Democrat Candidate John Mannion

LIKELY REPUBLICAN (5)

District 3  County: Suffolk
Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
+ Support Democrat Candidate Monica Martinez 

District 4 County: Suffolk
Election Results: Republican (52 vs 48)
+ ^ Support Democrat Candidate Lou D’Amaro

District 6 County: Nassau
Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
Support Democrat Candidate Kevin Thomas

District 40 Counties: Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester
Election Results: Democrat (51 vs 49)
Support Democrat Candidate Peter Harckham

District 41 Counties: Dutchess and Putnam
Election Results: Republican (51 vs 49)
^Support Democrat Candidate Karen Smythe

District 43 Counties: Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington
Election Results: Republican (54 vs 46)
Support Democrat Candidate Aaron Gladd

SAFE DEMOCRAT (29)
State Senator James Sanders, District 10 County: Queens
Democrat Candidate John Liu , District 11 County: Queens
State Senator Michael Gianaris, District 12 County: Queens
Democrat Candidate Jessica Ramos, District 13 County: Queens
State Senator Leroy Comrie, District 14 County: Queens
State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. District 15 County: Queens
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, District 16 County: Queens
Democrat Candidate Julia Salazar, District 18 County: Kings
State Senator Roxanne Persaud, District 19 County: Kings
Democrat Candidate Zellnor Myrie, District 20 County: Kings
State Senator Kevin Parker, District 21 County: Kings
State Senator Diane Savino, District 23 Counties: Kings, Richmond
State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, District 25 County: Kings
State Senator Brian Kavanagh, District 26 Counties: Kings, New York
State Senator Brad Hoylman, District 27 County: New York
State Senator Liz Krueger,District 28 County: New York
State Senator Jose Serrano, District 29 Counties: Bronx, New York
State Senator Brian Benjamin,District 30 County: New York
Democrat Candidate Robert Jackson, District 31 County: New York
State Senator Luis Sepulveda District 32 County: Bronx
State Senator Gustavo Rivera, District 33 County: Bronx
Democrat Candidate Alessandra Biaggi, District 34 Counties: Bronx, Westchester
State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, District 35 County: Westchester
State Senator Jamaal Bailey, District 36 Counties: Bronx, Westchester
State Senator Shelley Mayer, District 37 County: Westchester
State Senator David Carlucci, District 38, Counties: Rockland, Westchester
State Senator Neil Breslin, District 44 Counties: Albany, Rensselaer
^Democrat Candidate Rachel May, District 53 Counties: Madison, Oneida, Onandoga
State Senator Timothy Kennedy, District 63 County: Erie

SAFE REPUBLICAN (19)
State Senator Kenneth LaValle (R) District 1 County: Suffolk
State Senator John Flanagan (R)  District 2 County: Suffolk
State Senator Andrew Lanza  (R) District 24 County: Richmond
State Senator Betty Little (R) District 45 Counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Warren Washington
State Senator George Amedore, District 46 Counties: Albany, Greene, Montgomery, Schenectady, Ulster,
Joseph Griffo,District 47 Counties: Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence
Patty Ritchie, District 48 Counties: Jefferson, Oswego, St. Lawrence
James Tedisco, District 49, Counties: Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Saratoga, Schenectady
James Seward, District 51 Counties: Cayuga, Chenengo, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Ostego, Schoharie, Tompkins, Ulster
Fred Akshar, District 52 Counties: Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Tioga
Pamela Helming, District 54 Counties: Cayoga, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Tompkins, Wayne
Rich Funke, District 55, Counties: Monroe, Ontario
Joseph Robach, District 56, County: Monroe
Cathy Young, District 57 County: Alleghany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqual, Livingston
Patrick Gallivan, District 59  Counties:  Erie, Livingston, Monroe, Wyoming
Chris Jacobs, District 60 County: Erie
Michael Ranzenhofer, District 61 Counties: Erie, Genesee, Monroe
Robert Ortt , District 62 Counties: Monroe, Niagara, Orleans

The New York State Senate Races above have been rated by City and State New York’s Updated Guide to the 2018 State Elections.

^Former President Barack Obama has added support to candidates and incumbents at the Executive Level, in addition to State Legislative Races.
^^Endorsed by The New York Times Vote For Real Change In Albany
+Endorsed by Newsday.

The New York State Assembly

There are 150 seats in the Assembly and all are up for re-election.  One hundred fifty Assembly districts are divided among 62 New York counties, .Each district has an average population of 128,652. Democrats have a  104-41 majority in the New York State Assembly.  

Election Results: Democrats won 107 seats, Republicans won 42. One still undecided.

The New York State Assembly  will help you confirm your Assembly district, and its candidates for office. . Here are all 150 New York Assembly District Candidates. Find out where your Democratic candidate stands on the issues that are concerning your community the most. It can be found on their campaign website,  i.e. Mary Smith For Assembly.

This Land Is Your Land post delves into the importance of state elections throughout the United States. As stated,  Incumbent Governor Mario Cuomo’s re-election seems to be secure.

Reflect

“My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth.”                                    Abraham Lincoln