Democrats Secure NY Senate Seat in Special Election
In a recent special election, Democrats successfully retained a traditionally Jewish New York State Senate seat, as their significant 2-1 party registration advantage proved overwhelming for the GOP.
Democrat Sam Sutton ran against Republican Nachman Coleler to fill the vacancy left by former Senator Simcha Felder, who resigned in April after being elected to the New York City Council. Sutton managed to keep the district, which includes key Haredi Jewish neighborhoods in areas like Rosera Park and Midwood. Notably, President Trump had previously won the area in 2024, with around 77% of registered voters leaning Democratic, more than double that of the GOP according to recent data from the New York State Election Commission.
Sutton garnered 67.6% of the vote compared to Coleler’s 32.4%, with results reported shortly after 9 PM EST. This victory means Democrats maintain a strong hold on 41 of the 63 Senate seats, leaving Republicans with just 22—a similar trend observed post-2024 elections.
Mike Janaris, the Democratic leader in the New York Senate, congratulated Sutton in an X post, expressing gratitude for preserving the party’s historically large majority.
Congratulations to my new colleague in the state Senate, Sam Sutton! Tonight he won a dominant victory in South Brooklyn, winning 2-1, maintaining a historically large Senate majority. We look forward to working together for our community. – Senator Mike Janaris (@sengianaris) May 21, 2025
Sutton has shown strong support for key issues during his campaign, including a firm stance against anti-Semitism, unwavering support for Israel, and a push for police reform without defunding. He emphasized these points on his campaign’s Instagram page from late April.
Interestingly, former Democrat DOV Hikind criticized the current Democratic Party, calling them a “disaster for Jews.” Hikind served in the state legislature for 36 years, representing much of the current 22nd Senate district.
The Democrats’ retention in this district aligns with a broader trend seen in the 2025 special elections, particularly in areas where Trump previously performed well. The party recently flipped two seats in the Florida State Legislature in a notable comeback. However, the overall electoral landscape has shifted, as recent analyses indicated that younger and minority voters have started drifting away from the GOP—a factor that played into the dynamics of the past elections.
