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Thomas O'Mara
2013 - Present
2027
12
Thomas O'Mara (Republican Party) is a member of the New York State Senate, representing District 58. He assumed office in 2013. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.
O'Mara (Republican Party, Conservative Party) ran for re-election to the New York State Senate to represent District 58. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
He previously represented District 53 in the New York State Senate from 2011 to 2013 and District 137 in the New York State Assembly from 2005 to 2011. He served as Assistant Minority Leader Pro Tempore.
Biography
O'Mara earned his B.A. from Catholic University of America and his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law.[1] His professional experience includes being a partner with Davidson and O'Mara, Professional Company, working as an assistant district attorney of Chemung County and New York County, as counsel for Chemung County Industrial Development Agency and as a district attorney for Chemung County.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
O'Mara was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Codes Committee
- Energy and Telecommunications Committee
- Finance Committee, Ranking member
- Senate Insurance Committee
- Investigations and Government Operations Committee, Ranking member
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Senate Rules Committee
2019-2020
O'Mara was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Banks Committee
- Senate Codes Committee
- Senate Environmental Conservation Committee
- Ethics and Internal Governance Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice chair
- Senate Transportation Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Banks |
| • Codes |
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Environmental Conservation, Chair |
| • Finance |
| • Insurance |
| • Investigations and Government Operations |
| • Judiciary |
| • Transportation, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, O'Mara served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Banks |
| • Codes |
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Finance |
| • Insurance |
| • Investigations and Government Operations |
| • Judiciary |
| • Transportation |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, O'Mara served on the following committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Elections, Chair |
| • Agriculture |
| • Banks |
| • Codes |
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Environmental Conservation |
| • Finance |
| • Insurance |
| • Investigations and Government Operations |
| • Judiciary |
| • Transportation |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, O'Mara served on these committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Banks |
| • Civil Service and Pensions |
| • Codes |
| • Consumer Protection |
| • Elections, Chair |
| • Energy and Telecommunications |
| • Environmental Conservation |
| • Ethics |
| • Judiciary |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, O'Mara served on these Assembly committees:
| New York committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Banks |
| • Energy |
| • Ethics and Guidance |
| • Judiciary |
| • Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports |
| • Ways and Means |
Issues
Tax extensions
Promoting his 2013-14 budget, Governor Andrew Cuomo and his 2014 re-election campaign launched television ads in late January, 2013.[2] E.J. McMahon of the pro-market Empire State Center for New York Policy argued that Cuomo's claim in the ads that his budget did not impose any new taxes was technically true but disingenuous because the governor did call for extending two taxes with automatic expirations first imposed in 2009. Cuomo proposed extending the 2 percent assessment on electric, water, and gas utility bills for five years beyond its scheduled March 13, 2014, expiration date. Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, O'Mara, and their fellow Senate Republicans opposed the utility tax extension and held a February 5 press conference on the topic with representatives from the Business Council of New York State, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY), the New York Farm Bureau, and AARP.[3][4] Cuomo also proposed extending a tax on households earning more than $10 million annually. Already statutorily limited to receiving only half of their tax deductions for their charitable giving, high-end taxpayers would see the temporary law limiting them to receiving only a quarter of their charitable giving deductions extended for three more years. The utility assessment tax brings in $509 million annually, and the charitable giving deduction limit brings in $140 million.[5]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: New York State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for New York State Senate District 58
Incumbent Thomas O'Mara won election in the general election for New York State Senate District 58 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Thomas O'Mara (R / Conservative Party) | 99.2 | 114,765 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 894 | ||
| Total votes: 115,659 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Thomas O'Mara advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 58.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Thomas O'Mara advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 58.
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for O'Mara in this election.
2022
See also: New York State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for New York State Senate District 58
Incumbent Thomas O'Mara won election in the general election for New York State Senate District 58 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas O'Mara (R / Conservative Party) | 99.3 | 90,352 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 627 | ||
| Total votes: 90,979 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Thomas O'Mara advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 58.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Thomas O'Mara advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 58.
2020
See also: New York State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for New York State Senate District 58
Incumbent Thomas O'Mara defeated Leslie Danks Burke in the general election for New York State Senate District 58 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas O'Mara (R / Conservative Party / Independence Party) | 56.3 | 70,848 |
 | Leslie Danks Burke (D / Working Families Party / Serve America Movement Party) | 43.7 | 54,976 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 15 | ||
| Total votes: 125,839 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Leslie Danks Burke advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 58.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Thomas O'Mara advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 58.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Thomas O'Mara advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 58.
Independence Party primary election
The Independence Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Thomas O'Mara advanced from the Independence Party primary for New York State Senate District 58.
Serve America Movement Party primary election
The Serve America Movement Party primary election was canceled. Leslie Danks Burke advanced from the Serve America Movement Party primary for New York State Senate District 58.
Working Families Party primary election
The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Leslie Danks Burke advanced from the Working Families Party primary for New York State Senate District 58.
2018
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2018
O'Mara also ran in the 2018 election as a Conservative Party, Independence Party, and Reform Party candidate.
General election
General election for New York State Senate District 58
Incumbent Thomas O'Mara defeated Amanda Kirchgessner in the general election for New York State Senate District 58 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas O'Mara (R) | 59.2 | 58,487 |
 | Amanda Kirchgessner (D) | 40.3 | 39,814 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 452 | ||
| Total votes: 98,753 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michael Lausell (Working Families Party)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 58
Amanda Kirchgessner defeated Michael Lausell in the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 58 on September 13, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Amanda Kirchgessner | 61.5 | 8,575 |
| Michael Lausell | 38.5 | 5,375 | ||
| Total votes: 13,950 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New York State Senate District 58
Incumbent Thomas O'Mara advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 58 on September 13, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas O'Mara |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Working Families Party primary election
Working Families Party primary for New York State Senate District 58
Michael Lausell advanced from the Working Families Party primary for New York State Senate District 58 on September 13, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Michael Lausell | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2016
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the New York State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The filing deadline for major party candidates was July 14, 2016. The filing deadline for independent candidates was August 23, 2016.
Incumbent Thomas O'Mara defeated Leslie Danks Burke in the New York State Senate District 58 general election.[6][7]
| New York State Senate, District 58 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Thomas O'Mara Incumbent |
54.66% | 63,270 | |
| Democratic | Leslie Danks Burke | 45.34% | 52,488 | |
| Total Votes | 115,758 | |||
| Source: New York Board of Elections | ||||
Leslie Danks Burke ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 58 Democratic primary.[8][9]
| New York State Senate, District 58 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Leslie Danks Burke (unopposed) | |
Danks Burke also ran on the Working Families and Women's Equality Party tickets.
Incumbent Thomas O'Mara ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 58 Republican primary.[8][9]
| New York State Senate, District 58 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Thomas O'Mara Incumbent (unopposed) | |
O'Mara also ran on the Conservative, Independence, and Reform Party tickets.
2014
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the New York State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election took place November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 10, 2014. Incumbent Thomas O'Mara was unopposed in the Republican primary. O'Mara also ran on the Conservative Party and Independence Party of New York State tickets. O'Mara was unchallenged in the general election.[10][11][12]
2012
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2012
O'Mara ran in the 2012 election for New York State Senate District 58. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary on September 13, 2012. He also ran on the Conservative Party and Independence Party of New York State tickets. O'Mara was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[13][14][15]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Thomas O'Mara Incumbent |
100% | 74,458 | |
| Total Votes | 74,458 | |||
2010
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2010
O'Mara ran in the 2010 election for New York State Senate District 53. He defeated James Bacalles in the September 14 Republican primary. He defeated Pamela Mackesey (D) in the November 2 general election.[16][17]
| New York State Senate, General Election Results, District 53 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Thomas O'Mara (R)
|
46,226 | |||
| Pamela Mackesey (D) | 31,470 | |||
2008
- See also: New York State Assembly elections, 2008
On November 4, 2008, O'Mara won re-election to the New York State Assembly, District 137. He ran unopposed.[18][19]
O'Mara raised $75,194 for his campaign.[20]
| New York State Assembly, District 137 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Thomas O'Mara (R)
|
28,111 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Thomas O'Mara did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Thomas O'Mara did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Thomas O'Mara did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of New York scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 3 to June 8.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 4 to June 21.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 5 to June 4.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 6 to June 10.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 8 to December 31.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the New York State Legislature was in session from January 9 through January 8, 2020.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the 202nd New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 3 through June 20.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the 202nd New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 4 through December 31. A recess began June 21, and there was a special session June 28-29.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 201st New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 6 through June 18.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 201st New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 7 through June 25.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 200th New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 8 to June 19, 2014.
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2013
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In 2013, the 200th New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 9 to December 31.
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2012
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In 2012, the 199th New York State Legislature, second annual session, was in session from January 4 to June 22, 2012.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 199th New York State Legislature, first annual session, was in session from January 5 to June 20, 2011.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
O'Mara and his wife, Marilyn, have three children; Caroline, Catherine, and Thomas.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate New York State Senate District 58 |
Officeholder New York State Senate District 58 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Rep. O'Mara,” accessed August 1, 2014
- ↑ The Buffalo News, "Cuomo taking to TV to sell his budget plan," January 23, 2013
- ↑ New York State Senate, "Senate Republicans call on Governor Cuomo to remove utility tax surcharge extension from executive budget," February 5, 2013
- ↑ New York State Senate, "O'Mara, colleagues to Cuomo: You said no new taxes, so pull the plug on this proposal," February 5, 2013
- ↑ Empire State Center for New York Policy, "“No new taxes”? Not so fast," January 31, 2013
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed October 11, 2016
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Election results, 2016," accessed December 23, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 New York State Board of Elections, "Filings received for the 2016 State/Local Primary," accessed August 29, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 New York State Board of Elections, "Election returns September 13, 2016," accessed November 6, 2016
- ↑ New York Board of Elections, "Certification for the September 9, 2014, State Primary Election," accessed December 17, 2014
- ↑ New York Board of Elections, "Primary results for September 9, 2014," accessed October 1, 2014
- ↑ New York Board of Elections, "NYS Board of Elections Senate Election Returns November 4, 2014," accessed December 17, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Candidate List for the September 13, 2012, State Primary Election," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official September 13, 2012, Primary Results," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Official Senate Election Returns Nov. 6, 2012," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ New York Times, "NY state legislative election results," accessed February 11, 2014
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Primary results from September 14, 2010," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Primary results from September 9, 2008," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Official Assembly Election Returns November 4, 2008," accessed July 31, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Report on 2008 Campaign donations in New York," accessed August 1, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
New York State Senate District 58 2013-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
New York State Senate District 53 2011-2013 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
New York State Assembly 2005-2011 |
Succeeded by - |
