Campaign Finance in New York Senate Elections

Abstract

While incumbents in legislative races generally raise more money than challengers do, the important question is how money is related to vote outcomes. This analysis explores that relationship in New York state Senate races and examines how change in control of a chamber might affect individual and party finance activities. Republicans control the New York Senate by a small margin; it is the only state institution that the Republicans have controlled since 1974, and their general position has been eroding in recent decades. Within this context, few legislative races are close, and therefore attention focuses on a few races. Because the political parties play a major role in the management of campaign resources, they can create an organized, coherent response to this situation, and the evidence indicates that they do.