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New York, State Senate, District 55

New York State Senate District 55
Current incumbentRich Funke Republican Party

New York's fifty-fifth state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Rich Funke.

New York state senators represent an average of 312,550 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 306,072 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 Wednesday in January. When the first Wednesday in January falls on January 1, it shall meet the next Wednesday.

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. No member of the legislature shall, during the time for which he or she was elected, receive any civil appointment from the governor, the governor and the senate, the legislature or from any city government, to an office which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time."

Salaries

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$110,000/year$174/day (including overnight) or $59/day (no overnight).

Pension

Some legislators in New York are able to begin collecting a state pension while still serving in office and also receiving their normal salary. Under state law, if a lawmaker took office prior to 1995, they are eligible to begin collecting an annual pension once they turn 65. Those who took office after 1994 are not able to collect a pension while still in office. As of 2011, Rep. Herman Farrell (D) was the highest-paid state legislator, collecting his $113,500 salary as well as a pension of $81,619.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the senate, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. An election can be held as long the vacancy happened before April 1st in an election year. The person elected to fill the vacant seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of New York State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 23, 2020. The filing deadline is April 2, 2020.

2018

General election
General election for New York State Senate District 55

Incumbent Rich Funke (R) defeated Jennifer Lunsford (D) in the general election for New York State Senate District 55 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Rich Funke (R)
51.9
66,279

Jennifer Lunsford (D)
48.1
61,407
Other/Write-in votes
0.0
38

Total votes: 127,724
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 55

Jennifer Lunsford advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 55 on September 13, 2018.

Candidate

Jennifer Lunsford (D)

Republican primary election
Republican primary for New York State Senate District 55

Incumbent Rich Funke advanced from the Republican primary for New York State Senate District 55 on September 13, 2018.

Candidate

Rich Funke (R)

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 Rich Funke ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 55 general election.

New York State Senate, District 55 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Rich Funke Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: New York Board of Elections

Incumbent Rich Funke ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 55 Republican primary.

New York State Senate, District 55 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Rich Funke Incumbent (unopposed)
Funke also ran on the Conservative, Independence, and Reform Party tickets.

2014

BattlegroundRace.jpg
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 Ted O'Brien was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Rich Funke was unopposed in the Republican primary. O'Brien ran on the Working Families Party ticket and Funke ran on the Conservative Party, SCC-Stop Common Core and Independence Party of New York State tickets. O'Brien was defeated by Funke in the general election.

The New York State SenateDistrict 55New York State Senate. Incumbent Ted O'Brien (D) was defeated by Rich Funke (R) in the general election. In 2012, O'Brien won an open seat with a margin of victory of 4 percent. A Siena College poll in October showed O'Brien struggling against Funke. The poll showed Funke leading O'Brien, 57 percent to 32 percent. Funke is well known for his 30-year career as a TV reporter and anchor. O'Brien argued that the public knew Funke because of his television career, but not where he stood on the issues. Campaign finance reports filed in early October showed that Senate Republicans spent $171,000 on Funke's campaign. O'Brien was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D) and Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), while Funke was endorsed by the New York chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.

New York State Senate District 55, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngRich Funke 57.8% 54,874
Democratic Ted O'Brien Incumbent 40.7% 38,624
None Blank 1.3% 1,272
None Void 0.1% 139
None Scattering 0.1% 80
Total Votes 94,989

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. Ted O'Brien (D) defeated Sean T. Hanna (R) in the general election. O'Brien -- who also ran on the Working Families Party ticket -- was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Hanna was unopposed in the Republican primary.

New York State Senate, District 55, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngTed O'Brien 52% 70,020
Republican Sean Hanna 48% 64,572
Total Votes 134,592

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for New York State Senate District 55 raised a total of $8,036,723. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $472,748 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, New York State Senate District 55

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $559,784 2 $279,892
2014 $2,242,414 2 $1,121,207
2012 $1,614,433 2 $807,217
2010 $1,506,646 2 $753,323
2008 $1,071,795 2 $535,898
2006 $396,607 2 $198,304
2004 $342,614 2 $171,307
2002 $206,313 1 $206,313
2000 $96,117 2 $48,059
Total $8,036,723 17 $472,748