Elections were held in the State of New York on November 2, 2010. Due to the special election for US Senate, all of New York's six statewide offices were up for popular election on the same date. At the same time, all 29 members from New York of the U.S. House of Representatives, all 212 members of the New York State legislature, and many other local officials were elected.

The Democratic Party swept all of the statewide races. However, Republicans made net gains of six seats in the House of Representatives and retook control of the New York State Senate, winning 32 Senate seats to the Democrats' 30.

United States Senate

Democratic Senator Charles Schumer won reelection against Jay Townsend, his Republican opponent.

Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton resigned her position in 2009 to become United States Secretary of State in the Obama administration. Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed to the seat by Governor David Paterson. On November 2, 2010, a special election was held to fill the seat for the remainder of Clinton's unexpired term. Gillibrand defeated Republican Joseph J. DioGuardi in the special election.

United States House

The House seat in New York's 29th congressional district seat was vacated by Democrat Eric Massa, who resigned March 8, 2010. Under the authority of Article I in the U.S. constitution and provisions in New York state law, Governor David Paterson was supposed to call a special election in spring 2010 to fill the seat. However, Paterson waited until September to call the election and scheduled it for the same day as the general election. Two concurrent elections were held, one to fill the remainder of Massa's term (November to January) and one to fill the seat in the subsequent Congress. Both elections had the same candidates on the ballot, Democrat Matthew Zeller and Republican Tom Reed. Reed prevailed in both elections.

All of the New York congressional districts that were expected to be competitive were in Democratic hands; Republicans were expected to mount serious challenges to Democratic incumbents in districts 1, 13, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25 and 29. Republican candidates won their races in Congressional Districts 13, 19, 20, 24, 25, and 29. Republican candidates prevailed in a total of eight congressional races in New York, while Democratic candidates prevailed in the other 21; thus, the GOP gained a total of six House seats in New York.

State

Governor

Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat, resigned his post as governor of New York in 2008 due to a prostitution scandal. David Paterson, the Lieutenant Governor of New York, succeeded Spitzer. Paterson did not seek election to a full term in 2010.

The following tickets were filed with the New York State Board of Elections: Democratic Party: Andrew Cuomo/Bob Duffy (won the general election on November 2, 2010) Republican Party: Carl Paladino/Greg Edwards Independence Party: Cuomo/Duffy Conservative Party: Paladino/Edwards Working Families Party: Cuomo/Duffy Taxpayers Party: Paladino/Edwards Libertarian Party: Warren Redlich/Alden Link Green Party: Howie Hawkins/Gloria Mattera Rent is Too Damn High Party: Jimmy McMillan/no running mate Anti-Prohibition Party: Kristin M. Davis/Tanya Gendelman Freedom Party: Charles Barron/Eva Doyle

Andrew Cuomo and Bob Duffy prevailed in the election, receiving 61.4% of the vote.

Attorney General

In the wake of incumbent Andrew Cuomo's decision to pursue the governor's post and not seek re-election, five Democrats ran in a primary election; the winner was State Senator Eric Schneiderman, who had heavy backing from labor. Dan Donovan was the nominee of the RepublicanNew York State Republicans Nominate Dan Donovan as Their Candidate for Attorney General. Retrieved July 13, 2010 and Conservative parties.Hornak, Robert (2010-05-31). State Conservative Party Meets: Endorse Townsend, DioGuardi, Donovan, Wilson and (Surprise!) Rick Lazio. Retrieved July 13, 2010 Schneiderman prevailed over Donovan in the general election on November 2, 2010, by a margin of 54.9% to 43.7%.

Comptroller

In February 2007, Thomas DiNapoli was chosen by the New York State Legislature to complete the unexpired term of Alan Hevesi following Hevesi's resignation. DiNapoli faced Republican Harry Wilson in the 2010 election. DiNapoli prevailed over Wilson in the general election on November 2, 2010, by a margin of 50.78% to 46.26%.

State Senate

All 62 seats of the New York State Senate were up for election in 2010 in accordance with state law.

Republicans retook the Senate majority in the 2010 elections, winning 32 seats to the Democrats' 30 on Election Day. One Republican Senate incumbent, Senator Frank Padavan of Queens, was defeated, while four Democratic incumbents (Sens. Brian Foley, Antoine Thompson, Darrel Aubertine, and Craig Johnson) were defeated in the general election. Democratic candidate David Carlucci was elected to an open seat in Senate District 38 that had become vacant due to the July 2010 death of Republican Senator Thomas Morahan. After defeating incumbent William Stachowski in a Democratic primary, Timothy M. Kennedy prevailed in the general election in Senate District 58. The Republicans' takeover of control of the State Senate was not confirmed until Johnson, who had sought a full hand recount of his race, exhausted his final appeal on December 20, 2010.

Open seats 12th district: Democrat George Onorato announced he would not seek reelection. Assemblyman Michael N. Gianaris, a Democrat, ran for the seat. Gianaris won the general election on November 2, 2010. 31st district: Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat who represents a district on the upper-east side of Manhattan, vacated his seat to run successfully for Attorney General. Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat won the Democratic party nomination to succeed Schneiderman. Espaillat won the general election on November 2, 2010. 38th district: Thomas Morahan, the Republican who represented this district in Rockland County, died in July 2010 from leukemia; he had already announced his retirement before his death. Five-term Rockland County executive and former lieutenant governor candidate C. Scott Vanderhoef, a Republican, ran to replace him, against three term Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci. Carlucci prevailed in the general election. 40th district: Incumbent Republican Vincent Leibell announced he would not seek reelection and would instead run for Putnam County Executive. (Leibell was elected Putnam County Executive, but resigned from both posts in December 2010 amid rumors of corruption charges.) Michael Kaplowitz, Westchester County Legislator was the Democratic candidate. Republican Greg Ball, an Assemblyman, won his party's primary. Ball went on to win the general election. 53rd district: Republican George H. Winner, Jr. unexpectedly announced he would not seek re-election on June 2, 2010. Assemblymen Tom O'Mara and James Bacalles, both Republicans representing adjacent districts, made known their intentions to pursue the seat; O'Mara won the Republican primary and ran against Ithaca Democrat Pamela Mackesey. O'Mara won the general election. 59th district: Republican Dale Volker retired after 19 terms (38 years) in office. Former Erie County Sheriff Patrick Gallivan won a three-way the Republican primary, although Republican candidates Jim Domagalski and David DiPietro initially remained in the race on minor party lines. (Domagalski eventually withdrew his candidacy). Cynthia Appleton, a Village of Warsaw Trustee and critical care nurse, was the nominee of the Democratic and Working Families Parties. Gallivan prevailed in the general election.

Notable races 1st district: Incumbent Republican Kenneth LaValle, who has served 17 terms (34 years), ran unopposed in 2008. The district includes the five East End towns of Long Island, and the eastern half of the Town of Brookhaven. LaValle faced a potentially formidable Democratic challenger in corporate fraud lawyer Regina Calcaterra, but Calcaterra dropped out after it was revealed that she had not met state residency requirements and was replaced on the ballot by Jennifer Maertz. LaValle won the general election on November 2, 2010. 3rd district: Incumbent Democrat Brian X. Foley was elected in 2008 to a seat held by Republican Caesar Trunzo since 1972. In 2010, Foley was opposed by former 2008 1st Congressional District Republican nominee Lee Zeldin. The district stretches across the south shore of Suffolk County from Brentwood to Mastic Beach. Zeldin defeated Foley, the one-term incumbent, in the general election on November 2, 2010, by a margin of 58% to 42%. 6th district: Incumbent Republican Kemp Hannon has represented this district since 1989. The district includes Levittown, Massapequa, Garden City, Uniondale, Hempstead, Farmingdale, Franklin Square, Old Bethpage, Salisbury, Garden City South, Plainview, Lakeview, Plainedge, Island Trees and East Meadow. In 2008, Hannon was almost defeated by political newcomer Kristen M. McElroy.http://www.nycapitolnews.com/news/126/ARTICLE/1616/2010-01-15.html Hannon was initially opposed by Democrat Dave Mejias, but Mejias withdrew his candidacy following his arrest on charges of stalking and battery and was replaced on the ballot by Francesca Carlow. Hannon won the general election on November 2, 2010. 7th district: Incumbent Democrat Craig M. Johnson was elected in a special election in 2007 and subsequently elected to a full term in November 2008. The district is located in the northwest corner of Nassau County. Mineola mayor Jack Martins ran on the Republican line. On December 4, 2010, the election results in this closely contested race were certified; Republican challenger Jack Martins prevailed. The margin of victory was just 451 votes, 0.5%, and there were discrepancies in two of the 7 machine counts that were audited, leading Democrats to call for a full hand recount. Democrats promised to appeal the decision. However, on December 20, 2010, the New York Court of Appeals rejected Johnson's final appeal and ruled that Martins had won the election; Johnson then conceded.http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20101221/NEWS01/12210327/Republicans-officially-control-state-Senate%5C 11th district: Incumbent Republican Frank Padavan represented this district since 1972. The district includes Queens Village, Flushing, Bayside, Whitestone, Douglaston, Little Neck, College Point, Bellerose, Hollis, Jamaica Estates, Floral Park, and Glen Oaks. In 2008 he won by only 483 votes over New York City Council member James F. Gennaro. Padavan's challenger in the 2010 election was Democrat Tony Avella. Avella defeated incumbent Padavan on November 2, 2010. 15th district: Incumbent Democrat Joseph Addabbo Jr. defeated Republican Senator Serphin R. Maltese in 2008. He faced Republican Anthony Como, a former city councilman. Addabbo won the general election on November 2, 2010. 16th district: Incumbent Democrat Toby Ann Stavisky faced two primary challengers: multi-millionaire, cancer researcher and professor Dr. Isaac Sasson and attorney John A. Messer. Stavisky won the primary. She won the general election on November 2, 2010. 27th district: Incumbent Democrat Carl Kruger faced a primary challenge from administrative judge Igor Oberman. Kruger came under fire for his vote against same-sex marriage and for his involvement with the dissident Amigos faction within the Democratic caucus. Oberman failed to submit the necessary signatures to participate in the primary. Kruger won the general election on November 2, 2010. 32nd district: Incumbent Democrat Rubén Díaz Sr. faced a potential primary challenge from Charlie Ramos; the socially conservative Diaz has come under fire for his public opposition to same-sex marriage, but nevertheless won the primary by a margin of 79% to 22%, and went on to win the general election on November 2, 2010.