Since losing their majority in the 2018 elections, one Republican State Senator has already resigned and eight more have announced plans to depart the chamber. Richard Funke (R-Perinton), Joe Robach (R-Greece), George Amedore (R-Rotterdam), Betty Little (R-Queensbury), and Michael Ranzenhofer (R-Amherst) have all announced plans to not seek reelection. Bob Antonacci (R-Syracuse) plans to vacate his seat after winning a state Supreme Court post in November. Robert Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) and Chris Jacobs (R-Buffalo) are both running for a Buffalo-area Congressional seat previously held by former Representative Chris Collins, who resigned and pled guilty in an insider trading case in October. Cathy Young (R-Olean) resigned her seat earlier this year.
The Democrats currently control the Senate with 40 seats to the Republicans’ 23. Though most of the retiring Republicans’ districts are not widely considered competitive, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) has expressed optimism that the Democrats will expand their majority in the 2020 elections.