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New York state legislative special elections, 2021

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In 2021, two special elections were called to fill vacant seats in the New York State Legislature.

Click here to read more about the special elections.

Senate special elections called:

Assembly special elections called:

How vacancies are filled in New York


If there is a vacancy in the New York Legislature, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. A special election can be held as long as the vacancy occurred before April 1 of the last year of the former officeholder's term. If a special session is called in the state legislature after this date, a special election may be called to fill the seat.[1] The person elected to fill the vacant seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.[2]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: New York Public Officers Law § 42


About the legislature

The New York State Legislature is a bicameral body composed of the New York State Assembly, with 150 members, and the New York State Senate, with 63 members.

The boxes below show the partisan composition of both chambers directly before and after the most recent general elections prior to 2020. For the most up-to-date numbers on partisan composition in this legislature, see here (Senate) and here (House).

New York State Senate
Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
     Democratic Party 40 43
     Republican Party 20 20
     Vacancy 3 0
Total 63 63


New York State Assembly
Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
     Democratic Party 103 106
     Republican Party 42 43
     Independent 1 1
     Vacancy 4 0
Total 150 150

Special elections

Click [show] to the right of the district name for more information:

November 2, 2021

Special elections throughout the country

See also: State legislative special elections, 2021

In 2021, 66 state legislative special elections were held in 21 states. Between 2011 and 2020, an average of 75 special elections took place each year.

Breakdown of 2021 special elections

In 2021, special elections for state legislative positions were held for the following reasons:

  • 27 due to appointment, election, or the seeking of election to another position
  • 23 due to resignation
  • 4 due to a resignation related to criminal charges
  • 12 due to the death of the incumbent

Impact of special elections on partisan composition

The partisan breakdown for the special elections was as follows:

The table below details how many seats changed parties as the result of a special election in 2021. The number on the left reflects how many vacant seats were originally held by each party, while the number on the right shows how many vacant seats each party won in the special elections. In elections between 2011 and 2020, either the Democratic Party or Republican Party saw an average net gain of four seats across the country.

Note: This table reflects information for elections that were held and not the total number of vacant seats.

Partisan Change from Special Elections (2021)
Party As of Special Election After Special Election
     Democratic Party 33 33
     Republican Party 33 33
     Independent 0 0
Total 66 66

Flipped seats

In 2021, six seats flipped as a result of state legislative special elections.

Seats flipped from D to R

Seats flipped from R to D


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ FindLaw, "New York Consolidated Laws, Public Officers Law - PBO § 42. Filling vacancies in elective offices," accessed February 11, 2021 (Statute § 42 (4))
  2. ↑ FindLaw, "New York Consolidated Laws, Public Officers Law - PBO § 38. Terms of officers chosen to fill vacancies," accessed February 11, 2021 (Statute § 38)
  3. ↑ New York State, "Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation for Special Election for Open Senate and Assembly Seats to be Held on Election Day," September 17, 2021
  4. ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Special Election Political Calendar," accessed September 21, 2021
  5. ↑ New York Times, "Hochul Picks State Senator Brian Benjamin as Lieutenant Governor," August 25, 2021
  6. ↑ News10, "Gov. Hochul welcomes new Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin at swearing-in ceremony," September 9, 2021
  7. ↑ New York State, "Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation for Special Election for Open Senate and Assembly Seats to be Held on Election Day," September 17, 2021
  8. ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Special Election Political Calendar," accessed September 21, 2021
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