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New York, State Senate, District 30

New York State Senate District 30
Current incumbentBrian Benjamin Democratic Party

New York's thirtieth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Brian Benjamin.

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 30

Incumbent Brian Benjamin (D) won election in the general election for New York State Senate District 30 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Brian Benjamin (D)
99.6
96,528
Other/Write-in votes
0.4
368

Total votes: 96,896
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 30

Incumbent Brian Benjamin advanced from the Democratic primary for New York State Senate District 30 on September 13, 2018.

Candidate

Brian Benjamin (D)

Republican primary election

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.

2017

A special election for the position of New York State Senate District 30 was held on May 23, 2017. The last day for candidates to accept or decline nomination was March 20, 2017.

The seat was vacant following Bill Perkins's (D) election to the New York City Council.

Brian Benjamin (D) defeated Dawn Simmons (R) and Ruben D. Vargas (Reform) in the special election. According to a breakdown of presidential election results by state legislative districts, Hillary Clinton (D) won this seat in 2016 by 90 points.

New York State Senate, District 30, Special Election, 2017

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBrian Benjamin 90.7% 8,106
Republican Dawn Simmons 3.2% 287
Reform Ruben D. Vargas 2.1% 190
Blank Blank 0.5% 46
Void Void 0% 0
Scattering Scattering 3.5% 309
Total Votes 8,938
Source: NYC Board of 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 Bill Perkins defeated Jon Girodes in the New York State Senate District 30 general election.

New York State Senate, District 30 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Bill Perkins Incumbent 95.27% 113,144
Republican Jon Girodes 4.73% 5,619
Total Votes 118,763
Source: New York Board of Elections

Incumbent Bill Perkins ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 30 Democratic primary.

New York State Senate, District 30 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Bill Perkins Incumbent (unopposed)
Perkins also ran on the Working Families Party ticket.
Jon Girodes ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 30 Republican primary.

New York State Senate, District 30 Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Jon Girodes (unopposed)

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 Bill Perkins was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Jon Girodes was unopposed in the Republican primary. Ruben D. Vargas was removed from the ballot before the Democratic primary. Perkins also ran on the Working Families Party ticket. Perkins defeated Girodes in the general election.

New York State Senate District 30, General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBill Perkins Incumbent 87.1% 44,971
None Blank 8.1% 4,188
Republican Jon Girodes 4.6% 2,388
None Scattering 0.1% 60
Total Votes 51,607

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 Bill Perkins (D) was unopposed in both the general election and Democratic primary. He also ran on the Working Families Party ticket.

New York State Senate, District 30, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngBill Perkins Incumbent 100% 98,201
Total Votes 98,201

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for New York State Senate District 30 raised a total of $1,467,418. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $77,233 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, New York State Senate District 30

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $37,864 2 $18,932
2014 $35,509 2 $17,755
2012 $50,255 1 $50,255
2010 $304,685 2 $152,343
2008 $67,344 1 $67,344
2006 $194,360 3 $64,787
2004 $501,738 2 $250,869
2002 $143,800 2 $71,900
2000 $131,863 4 $32,966
Total $1,467,418 19 $77,233