Senator Kenneth Keating ran for re-election to a second term, but was defeated by Robert F. Kennedy.

[2] The Conservative state convention met on August 31 at Saratoga Springs, New York, and nominated Henry Paolucci.

[3] The Democratic Party state convention met on September 1, and nominated U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy on the first ballot with 968 votes against 153 for U.S.

At the time, Samuel S. Stratton, a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York's 35th congressional district, was considered the most likely Democratic candidate.

Kennedy responded to these charges in a televised town meeting by saying, "If the senator of the state of New York is going be selected on who's lived here the longest, then I think people are going to vote for my opponent.