New York state heldvarious elections on November 7, 2006.[1] Most notably, elections were held for the state governor,attorney general,comptroller, and for theU.S. Senate, all of which sawDemocrats win and build on their existing majority.[1] While Democrats had already been a strong force in the New York City area, most of the Democratic gains in 2006 occurred upstate. Former Attorney GeneralEliot Spitzer won the 2006 gubernatorial election by a record margin, whileAndrew Cuomo replaced him as the new attorney general.[1]Alan Hevesi was re-elected as comptroller, despite mounting ethics concerns.[1][2][3]Hillary Clinton was re-elected to the Senate.[1][4] For the first time in over 50 years, all major statewide elected offices were held by one party.[1] For the first time in over 60 years, they were all held by Democrats.[1][5][6][7][citation needed]
Republicans kept control of theState Senate,[1] but lost the seat of RepublicanNicholas Spano in Westchester County.[8] Soon after, they lost a Long Island seat in a 2007 special election,[9] and an upstate seat in 2008.[10] Democrats also gained three seats to build on their supermajority in theState Assembly.[citation needed] Republicans did gain a seat in the Assembly in 2007 in a special election in upstate New York.[citation needed]
Democrats flipped three Republican-heldcongressional seats, all inUpstate New York. DemocratMichael Arcuri won the open seat of retiring RepublicanSherwood Boehlert in the 24th Congressional District,[11] which stretches across Central New York fromUtica toOneonta to theFinger Lakes.[12] DemocratKirsten Gillibrand defeated Republican incumbentJohn Sweeney[13] in the 20th Congressional District, which includesSaratoga Springs andGlens Falls and takes in most of the upperHudson Valley.[14] DemocratJohn Hall defeated Republican incumbentSue Kelly in the 19th Congressional district in the LowerHudson Valley outside New York City.[15]
The previous governor,George Pataki, was aRepublican who defeated incumbent DemocratMario Cuomo in 1994 and was re-elected twice by wide margins, leading to a total of 12 consecutive years in the role.[1] Republican SenatorAlfonse D'Amato served until he was defeated in 1998 and before him long-time SenatorJacob Javits also served as a Republican, although he ran as aLiberal in 1980.[16][17]
All three major statewide officeholders were mired in controversy during or since their respective tenures, and at some point, all three have resigned from statewide office.[18][19]
Hevesi resigned only a few months after his comptroller election after being charged with, and pleading guilty to, one count of defrauding the government.[20] Eventually he was convicted for more corruption charges.[21]
Spitzer announced his resignation as governor on March 11, 2008, due tohis involvement in a prostitution ring.[22] While Cuomo did not have a major scandal in the immediate aftermath of his election or during his time as attorney general, he later went on to beaccused of sexual harassment while presiding as governor of New York.[19] On August 10, 2021, Cuomo announced his resignation, effective August 24.[23]
Democratic SenatorHillary Clinton was re-elected to a second 6-year term.[1]
| 2006 pre-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-Held | 20 | |
| Republican-Held | 9 | |
| 2006 post-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-Held | 23 | |
| Republican-Held | 6 | |
Eliot Spitzer, aDemocrat, was elected to replace retiringGeorge Pataki, aRepublican.[1]
Andrew Cuomo was elected to replace fellowDemocratEliot Spitzer, who was elected governor.[1]
Democratic ComptrollerAlan Hevesi was re-elected.[1]
| 2006 pre-election | Seats | |
| Republican-Held | 35 | |
| Democratic-Held | 27 | |
| 2006 post-election | Seats | |
| Republican-Held | 33 | |
| Democratic-Held | 29 | |
| 2006 pre-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-Held | 104 | |
| Republican-Held | 44 | |
| Vacant | 2 | |
| 2006 post-election | Seats | |
| Democratic-Held | 108 | |
| Republican-Held | 42 | |
