The 2026 New York State Senate election will be held on November 3, 2026. Primary elections were held on June 23, 2026. It will be held alongside elections for governor, attorney general, comptroller, United States House of Representatives, and State Assembly.

In the 2024 election, the Democratic Party retained its State Senate majority, but lost its veto-proof (two-thirds) majority after it lost one seat in the election for the 17th Senate district to Republican Steve Chan.

Candidates must have filed paperwork between March 30 and April 2, 2026, to run.

Retirements As of July 2026, 4 senators (1 Democrats and 3 Republicans) have announced their retirement, 1 of whom (Republican Peter Oberacker) is retiring to run for other offices.

Democrats 27th district: Brian P. Kavanagh is retiring.

Republicans 7th district: Jack Martins is retiring. 8th district: Alexis Weik is retiring. 51st district: Peter Oberacker is retiring to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Incumbents defeated In primary elections Democrats Two Democrats lost renomination.

13th district: Jessica Ramos lost renomination to Jessica González-Rojas. 61st district: Jeremy Zellner lost renomination to Jonathan Rivera.

Special elections There are three special elections for the 206th New York State Legislature, listed here by date and district. Under New York state law, vacancies in the state senate and other offices are filled by special elections, scheduled separately from the regular election cycle. The winners of these special elections will serve the remainder of the unexpired terms, and are expected to seek full terms in the 2026 general election.

!22

|2012 | |Incumbent resigned April 9, 2025, to become a New York City councilman.New member elected May 20, 2025.Democratic hold. |nowrap | Sam Sutton (Democratic) 67.0% Nachman Carl Caller (Republican) 31.9%

!47

|2012 | |Incumbent resigned December 31, 2025, to become Manhattan borough president.New member elected February 3, 2026.Democratic hold. |nowrap | Erik Bottcher (Democratic) 91.7% Charlotte Friedman (Republican) 7.7%

!61

|2020 | |Incumbent resigned December 31, 2025, to become mayor of Buffalo.New member elected February 3, 2026.Democratic hold. |nowrap | Jeremy Zellner (Democratic) 59.7% Dan R. Gagliardo (Republican) 39.8%

2025 One state senate seat became vacant during the 206th New York State Legislature due to resignations following election to other offices.

A special election for district 22 was held on May 20, 2025. Party nominations were made by county party committees, rather than through primary elections.

District 22 In 2024, incumbent Democratic senator Simcha Felder, who caucused with the Republican Party until 2019, won re-election to a seventh term with 99.09% of the vote. On April 9, 2025, he resigned from the state senate to become the New York City Council member for the 44th district after winning a special election on March 25. On May 20, Democrat Sam Sutton won the special election with 57.03% of the vote against Republican Nachman Carl Caller to succeed Felder. Sutton was sworn in on May 27.

2026 Two state senate seats became vacant during the 206th New York State Legislature due to resignations following election to other offices. Under New York state law, these vacancies are filled by special elections, scheduled separately from the regular election cycle. The winners of these special elections will serve the remainder of the unexpired terms, and are expected to seek full terms in the 2026 general election.

Special elections for State Senate districts 47 and 61 were held on February 3, 2026. Party nominations were made by county party committees, rather than through primary elections.

District 47 The seat became vacant after Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal resigned effective December 31, 2025, following his election as Manhattan borough president.

Erik Bottcher was selected as the Democratic nominee by the district's membership of the New York County party committee, whose special nomination meeting took place on January 11, 2026. The Republican nominee was originally Kevin O'Connell, later replaced by Charlotte Friedman. Bottcher won the special election and assumed office on February 4, 2026.

District 61 The seat for the 61st district became vacant after Senator Sean Ryan resigned effective January 1, 2026, following his election as mayor of Buffalo.

Assemblymember Jon Rivera had made his intentions to seek the seat before Ryan's resignation, and formally announced his candidacy on October 9, 2025. Erie County Democratic chair Jeremy Zellner announced his candidacy on January 5, 2026. Zellner was nominated by the party as their official candidate. The Republicans and Conservatives nominated perennial candidate Dan Gagliardo. Zellner won the election and assumed office on February 4, 2026.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball January 22, 2026 State Navigate September 09, 2026

Summary by district DistrictIncumbentCandidatesLocationMemberPartyFirstelectedStatus1Republican2020Incumbent renominatedE. Christopher Murray (Democratic) Anthony Palumbo (Republican)2Republican2020Incumbent renominatedMario Mattera (Republican) Harjot Singh (Democratic)3Republican2022Incumbent renominatedDean Murray (Republican) Antonio Vargas-Ayala (Democratic)4Democratic20182020 2022Incumbent renominatedMonica Martinez (Democratic) Brianne R. Wakefield (Republican)5Republican2022Incumbent renominatedAndrew Piddoubny (Democratic) Steven Rhoads (Republican)6Democratic2024Incumbent renominatedSiela Bynoe (Democratic) Matthew J. Capp (Republican)7Republican20102016 2022Incumbent retiringJake Blumencranz (Republican) Rory Lancman (Democratic)8Republican2020Incumbent retiringJarett Gandolfo (Republican) Josh Taveras (Democratic)9Republican2022Incumbent renominatedPatricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (Republican) Lisa Malkie Vider (Democratic)10Democratic2012Incumbent renominatedJames Sanders Jr. (Democratic)11Democratic1999 Incumbent renominatedPamela H. Michos (Republican) Toby Ann Stavisky (Democratic)12VacantMichael Gianaris (D) resigned August 7, 2026.Aber Kawas (Democratic) Han-Khon To (Republican)13Democratic2018Incumbent lost renominationJessica González-Rojas (Democratic) John Healy (Republican)14Democratic2014Incumbent renominatedLeroy Comrie (Democratic)15Democratic2008Incumbent renominatedJoseph Addabbo Jr. (Democratic)16Democratic2018Incumbent renominatedJohn Liu (Democratic)17Republican2024Incumbent renominatedSteve Chan (Republican) Larry He (Democratic)18Democratic2018Incumbent renominatedJulia Salazar (Democratic)19Democratic2015 Incumbent renominatedRoxanne Persaud (Democratic)20Democratic2018Incumbent renominatedZellnor Myrie (Democratic)21Democratic2002Incumbent renominatedKevin Parker (Democratic) Ronald Seifert (Republican)22Democratic2025 Incumbent renominatedNachman Carl Caller (Republican) Sam Sutton (Democratic)23Democratic2022Incumbent renominatedJessica Scarcella-Spanton (Democratic) Ruslan Shamal (Republican)24Republican2006Incumbent renominatedAndrew Lanza (Republican) Alexis Rodriguez (Democratic)25Democratic2020Incumbent renominatedJabari Brisport (Democratic)26Democratic2018Incumbent renominatedAndrew Gounardes (Democratic) Tom Stanten (Republican)27Democratic2017 Incumbent retiringGrace Lee (Democratic) Jason Murillo (Republican) Yuh-Line Niou (Working Families)28Democratic2002 Incumbent renominatedAlina Bonsell (Republican) Liz Krueger (Democratic)29Democratic2004Incumbent renominatedJosé M. Serrano (Democratic)30Democratic2021 Incumbent renominatedCordell Cleare (Democratic)31Democratic2018Incumbent renominatedRobert Jackson (Democratic)32Democratic2018 Incumbent renominatedLuis R. Sepúlveda (Democratic)33Democratic2010Incumbent renominatedGustavo Rivera (Democratic)34Democratic2022Incumbent renominatedNathalia Fernandez (Democratic) Adrian Romero (Conservative)35Democratic2006Incumbent renominatedAnthony Merante (Republican) Andrea Stewart-Cousins (Democratic)36Democratic2016Incumbent renominatedJamaal Bailey (Democratic) Grace Marrero (Conservative)37Democratic2018 Incumbent renominatedThomas Fix Jr. (Republican) Shelley Mayer (Democratic)38Republican2022Incumbent renominatedJoseph W. Rand (Democratic) Bill Weber (Republican)39Republican2022Incumbent renominatedLisa Kaul (Democratic) Evan R. Menist (Working Families) Robert Rolison (Republican)40Democratic2018Incumbent renominatedSergio Esposito (Republican) Peter Harckham (Democratic)41Democratic2020Incumbent renominatedMichelle Hinchey (Democratic) Patrick Sheehan (Republican)42Democratic2018Incumbent renominatedJoshua Blumenthal (Conservative) Jennifer R. Figueroa (Republican) James Skoufis (Democratic)43Republican2022Incumbent renominatedJake Ashby (Republican) Devin Lander (Democratic)44Republican2016Incumbent renominatedSarah F. Rogerson (Democratic) Jim Tedisco (Republican)45Republican2020Incumbent renominatedMelissa Seale (Democratic) Dan Stec (Republican)46Democratic2024Incumbent renominatedPatricia Fahy (Democratic) Martha McHugh (Republican)47Democratic2026 Incumbent renominatedErik Bottcher (Democratic) Charlotte Friedman (Republican) aEmily YueXin Miller (Conservative)48Democratic2018Incumbent renominatedRachel May (Democratic) Richard McCarron Jr. (Republican)49Republican2022Incumbent renominatedCassie Robbins-Forbus (Democratic) Mark Walczyk (Republican)50Democratic2024Incumbent renominatedJames Corl (Republican) Chris Ryan (Democratic)51Republican2020Incumbent retiringMichele Frazier (Democratic) Christopher Tague (Republican)52Democratic2022Incumbent renominatedMichael Bolles (Republican) Lea Webb (Democratic)53Republican2006Incumbent renominatedMandi Drake (Democratic) Joseph Griffo (Republican)54Republican2016Incumbent renominatedPam Helming (Republican) Michael Mills (Democratic)55Democratic2020Incumbent renominatedSamra Brouk (Democratic) Chris Brown (Republican)56Democratic2020Incumbent renominatedJeremy Cooney (Democratic) Orlando Rivera (Republican)57Republican2019 Incumbent renominatedGeorge Borrello (Republican) Victoria Guite-Williams (Democratic)58Republican2010Incumbent renominatedJames Bobreski (Democratic) Tom O'Mara (Republican)59Democratic2022Incumbent renominatedKristen Gonzalez (Democratic)60Republican2010Incumbent renominatedPatrick M. Gallivan (Republican)61Democratic2026 Incumbent lost renominationJonathan Rivera (Democratic)62Republican2014Incumbent renominatedThomas Arida (Democratic) Rob Ortt (Republican)63Democratic2024Incumbent renominatedApril Baskin (Democratic) Geoffrey Szymanski (Republican)

District 1

The 1st district is based on the eastern end and North Shore of Long Island, including the towns of East Hampton, Southold, Shelter Island, Southampton, and Riverhead, as well as some of eastern Brookhaven, all in Suffolk County. The incumbent is Republican Anthony Palumbo, who was re-elected to a third term with 52.93% of the vote in 2024.

Republican primary Nominee Anthony Palumbo, incumbent senator

Democratic primary Nominee E. Christopher Murray

Withdrawn or disqualified Farzeen Bham, candidate for New York State Senate in 2022https://ballotpedia.org/Farzeen_Bham

Endorsements

District 2

The 2nd district is based on the North Shore of Long Island, including the towns of Smithtown and Huntington, all in Suffolk County. The incumbent is Republican Mario Mattera, who was re-elected to a third term with 58.25% of the vote in 2024.

Republican primary Nominee Mario Mattera, incumbent senator

Democratic primary Nominee Harjot Singhhttps://ballotpedia.org/Harjot_Singh

Withdrawn or disqualified Jonathan D. Estreich (running for Suffolk County comptroller)https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Estreich

District 3

The 3rd district is based on the South Shore of Long Island, including portions of Brookhaven, Islip, and Brentwood, all in Suffolk County. The incumbent is Republican Dean Murray, who was re-elected to a second term with 61.47% of the vote in 2024.

Republican primary