Siena Poll Finds NY Democrats Close to Losing Senate

The first poll to look at statewide Senate races finds that Democrats may be struggling to retain their hold on the State Senate in November.

The Siena College poll looks at four key Senate races and finds that in two Republican incumbents, Frank Padavan of Queens and Hugh Farley of Schenectady, hold double digit leads over Democratic challengers.

Two Democrats, Brian Foley of Long Island and Darrel Aubertine of the North Country and the Oswego area, are in statistical dead heats with their GOP challengers.

“Certainly, in this first round you’d have to say: Advantage Republican,” Siena’s Steve Greenberg says.

Greenberg says most legislative races are fought in the local regions and candidates will win or lose depending on whether voters in their districts think they will do a better job of representing them in Albany.