2006 New York state elections
New York held various elections on November 7, 2006.[1] Most notably, elections were held for the state governor, attorney general, comptroller, and for the U.S. Senate, all of which saw Democrats win and build on their existing majority.[1] While Democrats had already been a strong force in the New York City area, most of the Democratic gains in 2006 occurred upstate. Former Attorney General Eliot Spitzer won the 2006 gubernatorial election by a record margin, while Andrew Cuomo replaced him as the new attorney general.[1] Alan Hevesi was re-elected as comptroller, despite mounting ethics concerns.[1][2][3] Hillary Clinton was re-elected to the Senate.[1][4] For the first time in over 50 years, all major statewide elected offices were held by one party.[1] For the first time in over 60 years, they were all held by Democrats.[1][5][6][7]
| Elections in New York State |
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Republicans kept control of the State Senate,[1] but lost the seat of Republican Nicholas Spano in Westchester County.[8] Soon after, they lost a Long Island seat in a 2007 special election,[9] and an upstate seat in 2008.[10] Democrats also gained three seats to build on their supermajority in the State Assembly. Republicans did gain a seat in the Assembly in 2007 in a special election in upstate New York.
Democrats also won three Republican held congressional seats, all in Upstate New York. Democrat Michael Arcuri won the open seat of retiring Republican Sherwood Boehlert in the 24th Congressional District,[11] which stretches across Central New York from Utica to Oneonta to the Finger Lakes.[12] Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand defeated Republican incumbent John Sweeney[13] in the 20th Congressional District, which includes Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls and takes in most of the upper Hudson Valley.[14] Democrat John Hall defeated Republican incumbent Sue Kelly in the 19th Congressional district in the Lower Hudson Valley outside New York City.[15] Of the nine Republican incumbents up for reelection in 2006, only one, John McHugh in the 23rd district (the far northern region of the state) won reelection with over 60% of the vote. Republicans James Walsh of Syracuse, Tom Reynolds of Clarence and Randy Kuhl of Bath all won re-election by narrow margins.
Background
The previous governor, George Pataki, was a Republican who defeated incumbent Democrat Mario Cuomo in 1994 and was re-elected twice by wide margins, leading to a total of 12 consecutive years in the role.[1] Republican Senator Alfonse D'Amato served until he was defeated in 1998 and before him long-time Senator Jacob Javits also served as a Republican, although he ran as a Liberal in 1980.[16][17] Republican Congressmen William E. Miller and Jack Kemp were both from New York and were running mates for Barry Goldwater in 1964[18] and Bob Dole in 1996[19] respectively (though Kemp's appearance on the ballot occurred after his service in Congress).
Despite the strong Democratic presence in New York City, Republican Rudolph Giuliani served two terms as mayor in the 1990s,[20] and Michael Bloomberg was elected as a Republican twice, the first time being in 2001 and then again in 2005.[21][22] Later, he became an independent and was narrowly re-elected to his third and final term in 2009.[23] In 2013, Democrat Bill de Blasio won back the mayoralty of New York City for his party with over 73% of the vote.[24]
Controversies and resignations
All three major statewide officeholders were mired in controversy during or since their respective tenures, and at some point, all three have resigned from statewide office.[25][26]
Hevesi resigned only a few months after his comptroller election after being charged with, and pleading guilty to, one count of defrauding the government.[27] Eventually he was convicted for even more corruption charges.[28]
Spitzer announced his resignation as governor on March 11, 2008, due to his involvement in a prostitution ring.[29]
While Cuomo did not have a major scandal in the immediate aftermath of his election or during his time as attorney general, he later went on to be accused of sexual harassment while presiding as governor of New York.[26] On August 10, 2021, Cuomo announced his resignation, effective August 24.[30]
Federal offices
United States Senate
Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton was re-elected to a 2nd 6-year term.[1] She was first elected in 2000, making her the first spouse of a U.S. president to win elected office.[1][31]
United States House
| 2006 pre-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-Held | 20 | |
| Republican-Held | 9 | |
| 2006 post-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-Held | 23 | |
| Republican-Held | 6 | |
State offices
Governor
Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat, was elected to replace retiring George Pataki, a Republican.[1]
Attorney General
Andrew Cuomo was elected to replace fellow Democrat Eliot Spitzer, who was elected governor.[1]
Comptroller
Democratic Comptroller Alan Hevesi was re-elected.[1]
State Senate
| 2006 pre-election | Seats | |
| Republican-Held | 35 | |
| Democratic-Held | 27 | |
| 2006 post-election | Seats | |
| Republican-Held | 33 | |
| Democratic-Held | 29 | |
State Assembly
| 2006 pre-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-Held | 104 | |
| Republican-Held | 44 | |
| Vacant | 2 | |
| 2006 post-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-Held | 108 | |
| Republican-Held | 42 | |
References
- Healy, Patrick (November 7, 2006). "In N.Y. Races, a Historic Sweep". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- Cardwell, Diane (November 8, 2006). "Despite Accusations, Hevesi Is Re-elected New York's Comptroller". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Hevesi Stays in Driver's Seat After Huge Victory". November 8, 2006. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Kornblut, Anne E.; Zeleny, Jeff (November 21, 2006). "Clinton Won Easily, but Bankroll Shows the Toll". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Life and Legacy of Herbert H. Lehman | Columbia University Libraries". library.columbia.edu. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Ex-Senator Mead Of New York Dies; EX-SENATOR MEAD OF NEW YORK DIES". The New York Times. March 16, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "U.S. Senate: Robert Wagner: A Featured Biography". www.senate.gov. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Santos, Fernanda (November 16, 2006). "Spano Concedes in State Senate Race". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Nassau voters elect Democrat Johnson to state Senate in special election". News 12 - Long Island. February 7, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Confessore, Nicholas; Hakim, Danny (November 5, 2008). "Democrats Are Poised to Control Albany". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Hicks, Jonathan P. (April 2, 2006). "A House Seat Won by Republicans Since 1950 Is Now in Play". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "In 24th Congressional Race: Arcuri vs. Hanna & Gorton". democracywise.syr.edu. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "20th District in New York - John Sweeney, Kristin Gillibrand - 2006 Midterm Elections - New York Times". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Thompson, Maury. "Election 06: Kirsten Gillibrand unseats Sweeney; Clinton, Spitzer lead Democrat win". Glens Falls Post-Star. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Santos, Fernanda (November 12, 2006). "Upsets in the Making for Two Veterans". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Dao, James (November 4, 1998). "The Defeat – D'Amato Fails, Finally, To Confound Rivals". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Senator Jacob K. Javits - Congress Member Page". Congress.gov.
- McGill, Douglas C. (June 25, 1983). "EX-REP. WILLIAM MILLER, 69, DIES; GOLDWATER'S 1964 RUNNING MATE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Jack Kemp, Ex-Congressman & Dole '96 Running Mate, Dies At 73". NPR. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "How Rudolph Giuliani became New York City's mayor". City & State NY. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "CNN.com - Bloomberg wins 'tough' NYC mayoral race - November 7, 2001". www.cnn.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Healy, Patrick D. (November 9, 2005). "Democrats Are Locked Out of City Hall for 4 Straight Terms". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Chen, David W.; Barbaro, Michael (November 3, 2009). "Bloomberg Wins 3rd Term as Mayor in Unexpectedly Close Race". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Barbaro, Michael; Chen, David W. (November 6, 2013). "De Blasio Is Elected New York City Mayor in Landslide". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Andrew Cuomo hasn't risen to the top - Spitzer, Paterson and Hevesi have plummeted". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Ferré-Sadurní, Luis; Zaveri, Mihir (November 11, 2021). "Sexual Harassment Claims Against Cuomo: What We Know So Far". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Cuomo Announces Felony Guilty Plea By Former Comptroller Alan Hevesi In Pay-to-play Pension Fund Kickback Scheme". ag.ny.gov. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- Hakim, Danny (November 15, 2012). "Hevesi, Jailed for Corruption, Is Given Parole". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Spitzer Resigns After Sex Scandal, Pressure". NPR. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
- Axelrod, Tal (August 10, 2021). "Cuomo resigns after investigation finds he harassed multiple women". The Hill. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- "Hillary Clinton Wins N.Y. Senate Race". ABC News. Retrieved May 12, 2023.