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

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

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.
Incumbent Rich Funke ran unopposed in the New York State Senate District 55 Republican primary. Funke also ran on the Conservative, Independence, and Reform 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 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

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

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