Incumbent Democratic president Barack Obama defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney in New York and was re-elected.
Senator Gillibrand sought re-election for a full term against Republican attorney Wendy E. Long, who defeated Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos and U.S. Representative Bob Turner in a primary election for the Republican Party nomination.
[3] After a loss of two seats following the 2010 United States Census, the New York congressional delegation was reduced from twenty-nine to twenty-seven U.S.
[11] The passage of the Marriage Equality Act had an impact upon the 2012 State Senate elections, as three Republican senators who voted for the bill faced primary challenges[12][13] and the Conservative Party of New York withdrew support for any candidate who had voted for the bill.
[15]) Republican Senators Roy McDonald, James Alesi, Mark Grisanti, and Stephen Saland each voted in favor of the Marriage Equality Act.
[12] Carl Paladino, the 2010 Republican gubernatorial nominee, announced he would financially back primary candidates against Grisanti and Saland.
The Democrats nominated Hamburg Attorney Michael Amodeo, who faced a primary challenge from Swanick as well as former senator Al Coppola.
[31] The agreement allowed the Republicans and the IDC to jointly control the Senate despite the Democrats' 33-30 numerical advantage.
[32] On March 20, 2012, special elections were held to fill vacant seats in New York State Assembly districts 93, 100, 103, and 145.