Dem Senate candidates have more money to spend than GOP opponents

A month out from Election Day, most Democratic candidates in competitive state Senate races are on surer financial footing than their Republican counterparts – though some are certainly better off than others.

In Long Island’s 4th State Senate District, Democratic incumbent state Sen. Monica Martinez won her 2022 race by just three percentage points. This time around, she confidently outraised her Republican opponent Teresa Bryant, going into Election Day with more than $245,000 on hand. Bryant only had about $3,000 in funds at the start of October. Martinez is in great shape monetarily in a largely Hispanic district. But if she loses, it would be the second time she’s been forced out after a single term.

In the nearby 7th State Senate District, Republican state Sen. Jack Martins’ campaign is $5,000 in debt, according to state filings. The seat has fluctuated between Democratic and Republican control for years, and Martins is facing a fresh face in Democratic candidate Kim Keiserman. She had about $250,000 to spend a month out from the general election. But the powerful and organized Nassau County Republican Party could pick up the financial slack for Martins’ campaign. 

In Queens’ 11th State Senate District, Democratic incumbent state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky has a significant financial edge over her opponent, Republican education activist Yiatin Chu. Stavisky, who has held her seat for more than 20 years, has about $200,000 on hand. Chu, who hopes to capitalize on conservative Asian voters’ frustrations with Democratic education and safety policies, only has about $120,000 on hand.

In the 17th State Senate District, a newer majority-Asian district in Brooklyn, incumbent state Sen. Iwen Chu is facing off against Republican Stephen Chan. It’s a competitive district – Chu only won by a mere 1.5 percentage points in 2022 – and the incumbent doesn’t have much of a financial edge. Chu currently has about $227,000 to spend, while Chan’s campaign reports having about $216,000 on hand.

Up in the Hudson Valley’s 38th State Senate District, Republican state Sen. Bill Weber is preparing for a rematch against Democratic former state Sen. Elijah Reichlin-Melnik. In 2022, Weber beat Reichlin-Melnick, then the incumbent, by 3 percentage points. This year, Reichlin-Melnick wants his seat back. He has some more cash on hand than Weber, with about $320,000 to spend compared to Weber’s $290,000.

Democrats have financial edges over Republicans throughout the Hudson Valley’s 39th, 40th and 42nd State Senate Districts. Democratic incumbent state Sen. James Skoufis leads the pack with $1.5 million on hand for his rematch with Dorey Houle, who only reports having about $19,000 on hand. Despite Skoufis’ incredible financial advantage over Houle, it’s still set to be a close race; two years ago, Skoufis only beat Houle by a single percentage point. Though this time around, Skoufis may benefit from the presence of a Conservative Party candidate on the ballot who could siphon votes away from Houle.

Further north, in Rep. John Mannion’s old 50th State Senate district seat, the Republican-majority district will choose between Democrat Chris Ryan, the minority leader of the Onondaga County Legislature, and Republican Nick Paro, supervisor of the Town of Salina. Mannion flipped the seat blue in 2020 and Ryan hopes to keep it that way, with $30,000 more on hand than Paro. 

But it’s not all bad news for Republicans in competitive districts. Republican Mike Sigler has significantly more money on hand than state Sen. Lea Webb, the Democratic incumbent he’s hoping to unseat in State Senate District 52. Sigler currently has about $188,000 to spend, while Webb only has about $80,000. If Sigler wins, it would put the seat back in Republican hands.