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New York, State Senate, District 17

New York State Senate District 17
Current incumbentSimcha Felder Democratic Party

New York's seventeenth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Simcha Felder.

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 17

Incumbent Simcha Felder (D) defeated Jumaane Williams (Working Families Party) and Luis Rivera (Reform Party) in the general election for New York State Senate District 17 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Simcha Felder (D)
84.3
41,544

Jumaane Williams (Working Families Party)
13.4
6,611

Silhouette Placeholder Image.png

Luis Rivera (Reform Party)
1.5
733
Other/Write-in votes
0.8
395

Total votes: 49,283
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 17

Incumbent Simcha Felder defeated Blake Morris in the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 17 on September 13, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Simcha Felder (D)
65.5
15,589

Blake Morris (D)
34.5
8,200

Total votes: 23,789
Republican primary election

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.

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 Simcha Felder ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 17 general election.

New York State Senate, District 17 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Simcha Felder Incumbent (unopposed)
Source: New York Board of Elections

Incumbent Simcha Felder ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 17 Democratic primary.

New York State Senate, District 17 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Simcha Felder Incumbent (unopposed)
Felder also ran on the Republican and Conservative Party tickets.

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 Simcha Felder was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Felder also ran on the Conservative Party ticket. Felder was unchallenged in the general election.

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. Simcha Felder (D) defeated incumbent David Storobin (R) and Abraham Tischler (School Choice Party) in the general election. Felder ran and defeated Abraham Tischler in the Democratic primary. (While not declared, Felder gained enough write-in votes to defeat Storobin in the Conservative Party primary). Storobin was unopposed in the Republican primary.

New York State Senate, District 17, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngSimcha Felder 66.4% 39,266
Republican David Storobin Incumbent 32.7% 19,338
Independent Abraham Tischler 0.9% 528
Total Votes 59,132

New York State Senate, District 17 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngSimcha Felder 82.3% 6,643
Abraham Tischler 17.7% 1,427
Total Votes 8,070

New York State Senate, District 17 Conservative Primary, 2012

Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngSimcha Felder (write-in) 53.6% 113
David Storobin Incumbent 46.4% 98
Total Votes 211

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for New York State Senate District 17 raised a total of $1,722,056. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $74,872 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, New York State Senate District 17

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $0 1 $0
2014 $0 1 $0
2012 $810,820 4 $202,705
2010 $300,966 2 $150,483
2008 $70,427 2 $35,214
2006 $147,085 2 $73,543
2004 $135,688 5 $27,138
2002 $192,300 3 $64,100
2000 $64,770 3 $21,590
Total $1,722,056 23 $74,872