New York State Senate District 51
New York State Senate District 51 is represented by Peter Oberacker (R).
As of the 2020 Census, New York state senators represented an average of 320,885 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 308,271 residents.
About the office
Members of the New York State Senate serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. New York legislators assume office the first day of January after a general election.[1]
Qualifications
Article 3, Section 7 of the New York Constitution states:
| “ | No person shall serve as a member of the legislature unless he or she is a citizen of the United States and has been a resident of the state of New York for five years, and, except as hereinafter otherwise prescribed, of the assembly or senate district for the twelve months immediately preceding his or her election; if elected a senator or member of assembly at the first election next ensuing after a readjustment or alteration of the senate or assembly districts becomes effective, a person, to be eligible to serve as such, must have been a resident of the county in which the senate or assembly district is contained for the twelve months immediately preceding his or her election.[2][3] | ” |
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[4] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $142,000/year | The exact amount members receive for per diem is unknown. |
Vacancies
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.[5] The person elected to fill the vacant seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.[6]
See sources: New York Public Officers Law § 42
2016 pivot county
This district was one of 710 state legislative districts that, based on boundaries adopted after the 2010 census, intersected with one or more Pivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.
The 206 Pivot Counties were located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. At that time, the partisan makeup of state legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties was slightly more Republican than the overall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.[7]
District map
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in New York
On March 14, 2012, the state legislature approved a constitutional amendment to establish new redistricting procedures beginning in 2020. The New York Constitution requires that two successive legislatures approve an amendment in order to qualify it for final approval by popular vote. The legislature approved the amendment a second time in 2013. On November 4, 2014, voters approved the amendment, the provisions of which were set to take effect during the 2020 redistricting cycle.[8]
The 10-member commission comprises the following members:[8]
- Two members must be appointed by the temporary president of the New York State Senate.
- Two members must be appointed by the speaker of the New York State Assembly.
- Two members must be appointed by the minority leader of the New York State Senate.
- Two members must be appointed by the minority leader of the New York State Assembly.
- Two members must appointed by the aforementioned eight commissioners. These two appointees cannot have been enrolled in the top two major political parties in the state.
The legislature must approve the commission's plans by a simple up/down vote. The legislature must reject two separate sets of redistricting plans before it will be able to amend the commission's proposals. All districts will be required "to preserve minority rights, be equally populated, and consist of compact and contiguous territory." Further, state law will require that districts "not be drawn to discourage competition or to favor/disfavor candidates or parties." In prior redistricting cycles, authority for both congressional and state legislative redistricting was vested with the state legislature. An advisory commission participated in the process.[8]
State law requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. State legislative districts must also take into account the "historic and traditional significance of counties."[8]
2020-2023
State Assembly districts
New York enacted new State Assembly district boundaries on April 24, 2023, when Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) signed legislation establishing them for use starting with the 2024 elections.[9] The bill adopting the districts passed earlier that day in the State Assembly by a vote of 132-13, and it passed the state Senate by a vote of 59-1.[10][11] The legislation stated, "Vacancies in the Assembly will be filled using existing boundaries until January 1, 2025, at which time vacancies will be filled using the new boundaries."[12]
The state redrew its Assembly district boundaries in response to a June 10, 2022, decision by the appellate division of the New York Supreme Court in Nichols v. Hochul.[13] That court upheld a lower court ruling that declared the state's Assembly district boundaries invalid but determined that they should still be used for the 2022 legislative elections since the lawsuit challenging them was filed too close to those elections for the courts to intervene.[14] The appellate division ruling determined that the Assembly district map was enacted in violation of the state's constitutional redistricting process and ordered a New York City-based state trial court to oversee the redrawing of boundaries for the 2024 elections.[14] On September 29, 2022, that trial court directed the IRC to "initiate the constitutional process for amending the assembly district map based on the 2020 census data by formulating a proposed assembly map" and submit such a plan to the legislature by April 28, 2023.[15]
The New York State Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) had voted 9-1 on April 20, 2023, to advance this plan and submit it to the legislature with the Commission stating in its cover letter that the plan "garnered the highest number of votes in support" at its meeting on that date.[16][17]
According to Giulia Heyward and Jon Campbell at Gothamist, the new districts replaced "a nearly identical set of districts that were just put into place for last year’s races before a court threw them out."[18] Heyward and Campbell also wrote that "The commission had originally put forward a draft that would have made considerable changes before settling on a revised proposal last week mirroring the lines already in place."[18]
Click here to view more information about Assembly districts enacted in 2023, including zoomable maps and links to detailed demographic statistics for each district.'
State Senate districts
On May 20, 2022, Justice Patrick McAllister ordered the adoption of a new state senate map drawn by redistricting special master Jonathan Cervas which took effect for New York's 2022 legislative elections.[19] On April 27, the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, overturned a decision by the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court which overturned a lower court's ruling invalidating the legislature's state Senate boundaries.[20][21][22][13]
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) had signed new state legislative district boundaries into law on February 3, 2022. The New York State Senate voted 43-20 to approve them, and the New York State Assembly approved them 120-27 on the same day.[23][24]
Reactions to 2023 state Assembly maps
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie supported the new districts, saying, "I think the [commission] listened to the testimony that was given to them throughout all of the hearings across the state, and I think they came back with a fair map."[25] Betsy Gotbaum, executive director of Citizens Union, criticized the new boundaries as too similar to the ones already in place: "The new Assembly districts approved by the Independent Redistricting Commission are strikingly similar to the districts drawn by the legislature last year...This similarity suggests that the Commission drew the Assembly maps to please lawmakers."[26] Citizens Union describes itself on its website as a group "committed to reforming New York City and State government by fostering transparency, accountability, accessibility, honesty and the highest ethical standards."[27]
Reactions to 2022 state Senate maps
Following the passage of the map, Hochul said: "These bills are necessary to reapportion districts and to provide certainty and clarity regarding such districts in a timely manner, allowing for efficient administration of the electoral process." State Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy said: "There is a wild, partisan gerrymandering that took place here. It violates the state Constitution, and we’re going to try to get justice."[28]
Below are the maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for New York’s 2024 state legislative elections.
New York State Senate District 51
until December 31, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
New York State Senate District 51
starting January 1, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: New York State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for New York State Senate District 51
Incumbent Peter Oberacker defeated Michele Frazier in the general election for New York State Senate District 51 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Peter Oberacker (R / Conservative Party) | 60.0 | 87,068 | |
| Michele Frazier (D / Working Families Party) | 40.0 | 58,009 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 58 | ||
| Total votes: 145,135 | ||||
| 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. Michele Frazier advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 51.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Peter Oberacker advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 51.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Peter Oberacker advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 51.
Working Families Party primary election
The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Michele Frazier advanced from the Working Families Party primary for New York State Senate District 51.
2022
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for New York State Senate District 51
Incumbent Peter Oberacker defeated Eric Ball in the general election for New York State Senate District 51 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Peter Oberacker (R / Conservative Party) | 62.3 | 74,508 | |
| Eric Ball (D) | 37.6 | 44,938 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 110 | ||
| Total votes: 119,556 | ||||
| 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. Eric Ball advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 51.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New York State Senate District 51
Incumbent Peter Oberacker defeated Terry Bernardo in the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 51 on August 23, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Peter Oberacker | 51.4 | 10,360 | |
 | Terry Bernardo | 48.4 | 9,747 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 38 | ||
| Total votes: 20,145 | ||||
| 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. | ||||
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Incumbent Peter Oberacker advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 51.
2020
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for New York State Senate District 51
Peter Oberacker defeated Jim Barber and Timothy O'Connor in the general election for New York State Senate District 51 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Peter Oberacker (R / Conservative Party / Independence Party) | 55.4 | 72,997 | |
| Jim Barber (D) | 44.5 | 58,685 | ||
| Timothy O'Connor (L) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 180 | ||
| Total votes: 131,862 | ||||
| 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. Jim Barber advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 51.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Peter Oberacker advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 51.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Adam Hall (R)
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Peter Oberacker advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York State Senate District 51.
Independence Party primary election
The Independence Party primary election was canceled. Peter Oberacker advanced from the Independence Party primary for New York State Senate District 51.
2018
General election
General election for New York State Senate District 51
Incumbent James L. Seward defeated Joyce St. George in the general election for New York State Senate District 51 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | James L. Seward (R) | 63.5 | 67,101 | |
| Joyce St. George (D) | 36.5 | 38,610 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 31 | ||
| Total votes: 105,742 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
| 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
Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 51
Joyce St. George advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 51 on September 13, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Joyce St. George | |
| 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 51
Incumbent James L. Seward advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 51 on September 13, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | James L. Seward | |
| 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 James L. Seward defeated Jermaine Bagnall-Graham in the New York State Senate District 51 general election.[29][30]
| New York State Senate, District 51 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  James L. Seward Incumbent |
72.77% | 84,527 | |
| Democratic | Jermaine Bagnall-Graham | 27.23% | 31,626 | |
| Total Votes | 116,153 | |||
| Source: New York Board of Elections | ||||
Jermaine Bagnall-Graham ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 51 Democratic primary.[31][32]
| New York State Senate, District 51 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Jermaine Bagnall-Graham (unopposed) | |
Bagnall-Graham also ran on the Women's Equality Party ticket.
Incumbent James L. Seward ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 51 Republican primary.[31][32]
| New York State Senate, District 51 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | James L. Seward Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Seward 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 James L. Seward was unopposed in the Republican primary. Seward also ran on the Conservative Party and Independence Party of New York State tickets. Seward was unchallenged in the general election.[33][34][35]
2012
- See also: New York State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the office of New York State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 13, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was July 12, 2012. Incumbent James L. Seward (R) defeated Howard D. Leib (D) in the general election. Seward -- who also ran on the Conservative Party and Independence Party of New York State tickets -- ran and defeated James W. Blake in the Republican primary. Leib was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[36][37]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | James L. Seward Incumbent |
68.6% | 76,428 | |
| Democratic | Howard D. Leib | 31.4% | 34,966 | |
| Total Votes | 111,394 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
James Seward Incumbent |
80.6% | 8,500 |
| James Blake | 19.4% | 2,044 |
| Total Votes | 10,544 | |
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for New York State Senate District 51 raised a total of $6,220,712. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $270,466 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, New York State Senate District 51 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $31,596 | 2 | $15,798 |
| 2022 | $413,182 | 3 | $137,727 |
| 2020 | $531,707 | 3 | $177,236 |
| 2018 | $559,851 | 1 | $559,851 |
| 2016 | $546,735 | 2 | $273,368 |
| 2014 | $539,626 | 1 | $539,626 |
| 2012 | $607,327 | 3 | $202,442 |
| 2010 | $263,511 | 1 | $263,511 |
| 2008 | $1,061,110 | 2 | $530,555 |
| 2006 | $460,459 | 1 | $460,459 |
| 2004 | $373,823 | 1 | $373,823 |
| 2002 | $247,796 | 1 | $247,796 |
| 2000 | $583,989 | 2 | $291,995 |
| Total | $6,220,712 | 23 | $270,466 |
See also
- New York State Legislature
- New York State Senate
- New York State Assembly
- New York state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ New York Senate, "New York Constitution, Article XIII, Section 4," accessed November 1, 2021
- ↑ New York Constitution, "Article III, Section 7," accessed February 2, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ FindLaw, "New York Consolidated Laws, Public Officers Law - PBO § 42. Filling vacancies in elective offices," accessed February 11, 2021 (Statute § 42 (4))
- ↑ FindLaw, "New York Consolidated Laws, Public Officers Law - PBO § 38. Terms of officers chosen to fill vacancies," accessed February 11, 2021 (Statute § 38)
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 All About Redistricting, "New York," accessed May 8, 2015
- ↑ Twitter, "@JonCampbellNY," April 24, 2023
- ↑ New York State Assembly, "Bill No. A06586 Summary," accessed April 27, 2023
- ↑ New York State Assembly, "4-24-23 SESSION," accessed April 27, 2023
- ↑ New York State Assembly, "Bill No. A06586 Summary," accessed April 27, 2023
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Supreme Court of the State of New York Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, Nichols et al., v. Hochul et al. June 10, 2022
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Gothamist, "Court tosses New York’s new Assembly district maps –but not for this year," June 10, 2022
- ↑ Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County, "Nichols, et al. v. Hochul, et al.," September 29, 2022
- ↑ New York State Independent Redistricting Commission, "Assembly Plan 2023-Vote Tally," accessed April 27, 2023
- ↑ New York State Independent Redistricting Commission, "Assembly Plan 2023-Cover Letter," accessed April 27, 2023
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Gothamist, "NY Assembly Map: Meet your new district. Same as the old district.," April 24, 2023
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedadopt - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedfinalover - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedApr21ruling - ↑ Politico, "GOP judge throws out Democrats' redistricting plan in New York, setting up expected appellate fight," March 31, 2022
- ↑ New York State Senate, "Assembly Bill A9168," accessed February 4, 2022
- ↑ New York State Assembly, "A09168," accessed February 4, 2022
- ↑ Gothamist, "NY Assembly Map: Meet your new district. Same as the old district.," April 24, 2023
- ↑ Queens Chronicle, "Legislature, Hochul OK IRC’s Assembly maps," April 27, 2023
- ↑ Citizens Union, "About," accessed April 27, 2023
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbloom - ↑ 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
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 New York State Board of Elections, "Filings received for the 2016 State/Local Primary," accessed August 29, 2016
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 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
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "2012 General Election Results," accessed December 6, 2013
- ↑ State of New York, State Board of Elections, "Candidate Petition List," accessed August 9, 2012
