The elections were held concurrently with other elections in the state for U.S. Senate, Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, and various other local offices.

Neither of the two major parties in the U.S. congressional delegation from New York gained any seats, meaning that both parties' seat count in the delegation remained steady.

The retiring incumbents were Thomas J. Manton, a democrat from New York's 7th district; Chuck Schumer, a democrat from New York's 9th district who resigned to run for U.S.

Senator; Gerald B. H. Solomon, a republican from New York's 22nd district; and Bill Paxon, a republican from New York's 27th district.

All were replaced by candidates that shared their respective parties.