Staats ran as a Democrat and defeated John Townsend (Whig) by 336 votes in 1842.
The next year he doesn't run for reelection, and Friend Humphrey (Whig) defeated Peter Gansevoort by 226 votes.
During the 57th New York State Legislature from January 1 – December 31, 1834 he was a Jacksonian Assemblyman.
Philip S. Staats, son of Joachim and Elizabeth (Schuyler) Staats, was born July 26, 1755, and married Annetje Van Alstyne (baptized January 13, 1762).
He lived on Staats Island, Rensselaer County, and his fourth child was Barent P.