The Green Papers: New York 2009 General Election
This page is for offices up for election in 2009. Find 2010 elections here.
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ New York
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Special Election House CD 20: Tuesday 31 March 2009
Special Election House CD 23: Tuesday 3 November 2009
Electoral Votes:31(5.76% of 538)
Governor:1 
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
2002-2010 Representatives:29(6.67% of 435)
2000 Census:19,004,973 (6.74% of 281,998,273)
Estimated Voting age population (November 2000):13,805,000
Registered Voters (November 2000):11,262,816
Capital:Albany
Tuesday 31 March 2009 polling hours 6:00a EDT (1000 UTC) to 9:00p EDT (0100 UTC). Polls are open from 6:00a to 9:00p in NYC and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Erie. All other counties, polls are open from 12:00 noon - 9:00p.
Tuesday 3 November 2009 polling hours 6:00a EST (1100 UTC) to 9:00p EST (0200 UTC). Polls are open from 6:00a to 9:00p in NYC and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Erie. All other counties, polls are open from 12:00 noon - 9:00p.
 

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New York State and Local Government


New York State permits so-called "cross-endorsements", in which a candidate is allowed to appear on more than one Party's ballot line: thus, a candidate who loses the nomination of one of the two Major Parties for a given office but has already been nominated for that same office by at least one Party which is not one of the two Major Parties will still appear somewhere on the General Election ballot despite losing said Primary; in other words, a candidate losing in the Primary does not necessarily preclude that candidate from running for the same office in November.

Primaries are not used when a Special Elections is called to fill a vacant U.S. House Seat. Parties nominate their candidates and independents submit petitions to appear on the Special Election ballot.


15 December 2009: New York State - Board of Elections - 2009 Election Results - Certified December 15, 2009

 
           

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 111th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1 Democratic Senator Kirsten Elizabeth Gillibrand
appointed by Governor David Paterson to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation, on 21 January 2009, of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in order to enter upon her duties as U.S. Secretary of State. This appointee will serve pending a Special Election for this seat in 2010 for the remainder of the term ending 3 January 2013; Senator Gillibrand was appointed 23 January 2009 and sworn 27 January 2009
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
There will be a Special Election for this office in 2010. The next regular election thereafter for this seat is Tuesday 6 November 2012.
 

U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was nominated for Secretary of State on 1 December 2008 and confirmed on 21 January 2009 with a Senate Roll Call vote of 94-2. Immediately after the Confirmation, she resigned her seat. The New York Governor named a replacement candidate, Congressman Kirsten E. Gillibrand, on 23 January 2009. Senator Gillibrand was a Representative in Congress from NEW YORK's 20th Congressional District prior to her appointment to this seat. Senator Gillibrand (pronounced "JIH-lih-brand") was sworn in on 27 January 2009.


Class 3 Democratic Senator Charles E. "Chuck" Schumer
First elected: 1998; re-elected: 2004.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Term Limit: None, All Governors

  Democratic Governor David A. Paterson
As Lieutenant Governor, succeeded to the Governorship upon the resignation of Governor Eliot L. Spitzer, effective 17 March 2008 (announced 12 March 2008)
Chair up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010. Elected on a ticket with (but may be nominated separately from) the Governor

  Democratic Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
 Office became vacant upon the accession of Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson (Democrat) to the Governorship, 17 March 2008; State Senate Majority Leader/President pro Tempore Joseph L. Bruno (Republican) thereupon effectively became "acting Lieutenant Governor" but, as such, did not accede to the office and remained a member of the New York State Senate. Senator Bruno subsequently resigned as Majority Leader/President pro Tempore in preparation for eventually resigning from the State Senate itself and was succceeded by Senator Dean G. Skelos (also Republican).

State Senator Malcolm A. Smith (Democrat) was named Majority Leader/President pro Tempore and "acting" Lieutenant Governor on 6 January 2009: the Democrats had taken control of the NEW YORK State Senate in the 2008 General Election.

On 8 June 2009, two Democrats declared themselves "independent" of their Party and agreed to caucus with the Republicans, giving the Republicans effective control of the NEW YORK State Senate; as part of this, one of the "independent" Democrats- Pedro Espada, Jr.- was named State Senate President pro Tempore by the Republican caucus (as a result, Senator Espada will also effectively be acting Lieutenant Governor). Senator Malcolm A. Smith, the Democratic leader in the NY State Senate, has said he is still both Majority Leader and President pro Tempore and will go to court to challenge the legality of this move (which has to do with State Senate rules and under what conditions the vote to do so had been taken in relation to same). However, the new Majority Leader- State Senator Dean Skelos- has indicated that he expects at least a few more State Senate Democrats to soon join what is now being termed the "new bipartisan majority coalition".

On 15 June 2009, one of the two "independent Democrats"- in this case, Hiram Monserrate (D-Queens County)- 're-defected' back to the Democratic fold: as a result, the NEW YORK State Senate is now deadlocked, re: organizational purposes, at 31-31 [the other "independent Democrat" defector- Pedro Espada, Jr. (D-Bronx County)- who was designated State Senate President pro Tempore (and, thereby, acting Lieutenant Governor) last week remains with the Republicans for organizational purposes]. As a result, neither Party functionally controls the State Senate and, therefore, the post of President pro Tempore is, technically, now in abeyance. Meanwhile, the judge of the State Supreme Court (the general trial court in NEW YORK) hearing the legal challenge by the Democratic leadership of the State Senate to the events of last week which originally led to this situation has ordered the State Senate to resolve this dispute on its own by 10 AM EDT (1400 UTC) tomorrow (Tuesday 16 June 2009). The Green Papers now lists the office of "acting Lt Gov" of NY as being vacant pending further developments re: this dispute.

On 16 June 2009, NEW YORK State Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamara, currently assigned to the Court of Claims (which hears cases involving claims against the State government) in the State Capital, Albany, and hearing the case of Smith v. Espada in which the plaintiff (State Senate Democratic leader Malcolm Smith) claims that what is now being called "the Albany coup"- in which the Republicans originally seized control of leadership of the State Senate (but, re: which, the State Senate is now deadlocked- as regards organization and, therefore, scheduling bills for the Legislative Calendar and such- at 31-31)- was illegal as it took place after the State Senate had already adjourned for the legislative day of Monday 8 June, has- after first extending the deadline for the State Senate to resolve the dispute on its own to 1 PM local time (1700 UTC)- dismissed the case, thereby refusing to intervene in the dispute between the two Major Parties over which controls the now-tied State Senate, a deadlock that has left the position of Senate President pro Tempore (which, in turn, determines who is next in line to succeed to the Governorship of NEW YORK) in limbo. The position of effective "acting Lieutenant Governor", therefore, remains listed as "vacant" on The Green Papers.

On 8 July 2009, in an effort to break the deadlock in the New York State Senate resulting from the above-mentioned 31-31 tie, Governor Paterson appointed former Metropolitan Transportation Chairman Richard Ravitch Lieutenant Governor (the Lieutenant Governor, where not a member of the State Senate [as is the case when a State Senate President pro Tempore is acting where there is a vacancy in this office], has the constitutional authority to exercise a "casting vote" in case of a tie vote in the State Senate). State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, however, opined that this move was unconstitutional (the New York State Constitution does not specifically provide for the appointment of a replacement in case of a vacancy in the Lieutenant-Governorship): Mr. Ravitch was sworn in anyway, although a restraining order against his taking the Lieutenant Governor's chair was sought from- and granted by- a judge.

On 9 July 2009, State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr. agreed to return to the Democratic fold in the State Senate for organizational purposes, thereby restoring the "as elected" 32-30 Democratic majority that had originally resulted from the 2008 General Elections, on condition that he be named Majority Leader of the State Senate. Former Majority Leader Malcolm Smith was named President of the State Senate pro Tempore and, thus, returned as "acting Lieutenant Governor"; he is so listed on this website.

On Thursday 30 July 2009, the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court (the Supreme Court is the court of general trial jurisdiction in NEW YORK: the equivalent of a Superior Court or equivalent in other States; the 'Appellate Division' of same is a court of intermediate appellate jurisdiction in NEW YORK) ruled that Richard Ravitch could serve as Lieutenant Governor of the State, so long as he did not preside over the State Senate, pending a full hearing on the dispute currently scheduled for Tuesday 18 August. Nonetheless...

per the usual reading of the New York State Constitution, the office of Lieutenant Governor will remain officially vacant until a new Lieutenant Governor is elected (on a ticket with the Governor also elected at the same time) in 2010 and takes office at the beginning of 2011. However, the restraining order against appointee Richard Ravitch serving as Lieutenant Governor was lifted on 9 July 2009 (this was done before State Senator Espada switched back to the Democratic caucus in the State Senate as noted above); the legality of Mr. Ravitch's appointment has been challenged in court, however, and- until this matter is formally resolved- State Senate President pro Tempore Malcolm Smith will be listed as "acting Lieutenant Governor" on this website for the duration.

On 22 September 2009, the New York State COURT OF APPEALS (the State's highest court, that of Last Resort) decided, by a 4-3 vote, that Richard Ravitch was constitutionally appointed to the office (via the powers granted to the Governor re: the filling of vacancies in the State's Public Officers Law) and, therefore, legally entitled to serve as Lieutenant Governor with all concomitant privileges, powers and duties attached to that office.


111th U.S. House of Representatives  2 year term, Election Cycle 2006, 2008. No Term Limit. 111th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
27 Democratic (27 Undetermined);
2 Republican (2 Undetermined)

CD 1
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Democratic Congressman Timothy H. "Tim" Bishop
First elected: 2002
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 2
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Democratic Congressman Steve J. Israel
First elected: 2000
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 3
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Republican Congressman Peter T. "Pete" King
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 4
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Democratic Congressman Carolyn McCarthy
First elected: 1996
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 5
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Democratic Congressman Gary L. Ackerman
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 6
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Democratic Congressman Gregory Weldon Meeks
First elected: 3 February 1998 in Special Election re: resignation of Congressman Floyd Flake, 17 November 1997
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 7
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Democratic Congressman Joseph "Joe" Crowley
First elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 8
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Democratic Congressman Jerrold Lewis "Jerry" Nadler
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 9
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Democratic Congressman Anthony D. Weiner
First elected: 1998
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 10
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Democratic Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 11
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Democratic Congressman Yvette D. Clarke
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 12
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Democratic Congressman Nydia M. Velazquez
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 13
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Democratic Congressman Michael E. "Mike" McMahon
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 14
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Democratic Congressman Carolyn B. Maloney
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 15
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Democratic Congressman Charles B. Rangel
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 16
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Democratic Congressman José E. Serrano
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 17
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Democratic Congressman Eliot L. Engel
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 18
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Democratic Congressman Nita M. Lowey
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 19
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Democratic Congressman John Joseph Hall
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 20
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Seat up for election
Democratic Congressman H. Scott Murphy
• Re-elected Tuesday 31 March 2009
First elected: 31 March 2009 in a special election to fill the vacancy which was result of the appointment of Congressman Kirsten Gillibrand to the United States Senate.
Seat up for election: Tuesday 31 March 2009
  Elected Democratic; Independence; Working Families 80,833 50.09% Congressman H. Scott Murphy
Democratic: 70,240; Independence: 6,754; Working Families: 3,839

FEC H0NY20079: $2,852,485
  Candidate Republican; Conservative 80,107 49.64% state Assemblyman James Nicholas "Jim" Tedisco
Republican: 68,775; Convservative: 11,332

FEC H0NY00048: $1,711,190
  Candidate Scattering 429 0.27% BLANK, VOID SCATTERING
    Libertarian     Eric Sundwall - apparently not a candidate
25 March 2009: Mr. Sundwall's ballot petitions were successfully challenged and his name removed from the ballot by a unanimous decision by the State Board of Elections. On 27 March, Mr. Sundwall endorsed Scott Murphy (Democratic). Media article, Media article.

FEC H6NY20191: $8,746
Total 161,369 100.00%  
 On 23 February 2009, a special election, to fill this vacant seat, was proclaimed for Tuesday 31 March 2009. There is no primary-- by 9 March parties will nominate their candidate and independents will submit petitions. Next regular election is Tuesday 2 November 2010. The deadline for receiving absentee ballots is 13 April. The vacancy was the result of the appointment of Congressman Kirsten Gillibrand to the United States Senate, 23 January 2009. She was first elected to Congress in 2006.

31 March 2009 Special Election Results - Certified 12 May 2009 - New York State Board of Elections


CD 21
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Democratic Congressman Paul David Tonko
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 22
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Democratic Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 23
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Democratic Congressman William L. "Bill" Owens
First elected in a special election: 3 November 2009
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
  

2 June 2009: President Obama nominates Congressman John M. McHugh for Secretary of the Army.
16 September 2009: Congressman John M. McHugh is confirmed as Secretary of the Army by the U.S. Senate.
21 September 2009: Congressman McHugh resigns his Seat.
29 September 2009: Governor David A. Paterson (Democrat) calls a Tuesday 3 November 2009 special election to fill the seat.
3 November 2009: William L. "Bill" Owens (Democratic) elected.
6 November 2009: Sworn.


CD 23
{map}
Seat up for election
Special Election
Democratic
Seat up for election: Tuesday 3 November 2009
Special Election
  Elected Democratic; Working Families 73,137 45.18% William L. "Bill" Owens
FEC H0NY23081: $1,279,669
  Candidate Conservative; (Republican) 69,553 42.97% Douglas L. "Doug" Hoffman
FEC H0NY23107: $1,811,919
  Candidate Scattering 10,502 6.49% Blank & Void
  Candidate Republican; Independence 8,582 5.30% Assemblywoman Dierdre K. "Dede" Scozzafava
31 October 2009: Suspended her campaign. "In recent days, polls have indicated that my chances of winning this election are not as strong as we would like them to be. The reality that I’ve come to accept is that in today’s political arena, you must be able to back up your message with money—and as I’ve been outspent on both sides ... It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so..."
1 November 2009: Endorsed William L. "Bill" Owens (Democratic; Working Families)

FEC H0NY23065: $382,983
  Candidate Scattering 94 0.06% Scattering
Total 161,868 100.00%  
  

The Republican party chose Dierdre K. "Dede" Scozzafava on 22 July 2009 for the primary to replace Congressman John M. McHugh. The Democrats chose William L. "Bill" Owens on 10 August 2009.


CD 24
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Democratic Congressman Michael Angelo "Mike" Arcuri
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 25
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Democratic Congressman Daniel Benjamin "Dan" Maffei
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 26
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Republican Congressman Christopher J. "Chris" Lee
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 27
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Democratic Congressman Brian M. Higgins
First elected: 2004
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 28
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Democratic Congressman Louise McIntosh Slaughter
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

CD 29
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Democratic Congressman Eric J. J. Massa
First elected: 2008
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010

  Democratic Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo
First elected: 2006
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010
 apparently considering becoming, or at least being "talked up" as, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor in 2010 (Mr. Cuomo's father is Mario Cuomo, who served as NEW YORK's Governor from 1983 through 1994).

Comptroller  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2010

  Democratic Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli
Chosen by the State Legislature to succeed Alan Hevesi (who had resigned in December 2006): 7 February 2007
Seat up for election: Tuesday 2 November 2010

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
  Democratic (affiliates): 34 incumbents, 2 candidates
  Republican: 2 incumbents, 3 candidates
Major Third Parties
  Libertarian
Other Third Parties
  Conservative: 2 candidates
  Independence (affiliates): 2 candidates
  Working Families: 2 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  Scattering: 3 candidates
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.
 
FEC indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary "Total Receipts" for candidates for Federal Office.

 


  2009 General Election Home  
 
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2009 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress
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