Incumbent Republican Senator Al D'Amato lost his bid for a fourth term to Democrat Chuck Schumer in what was considered by many to be the "high[est] profile and nastiest" contest of the year.

[5] Schumer, a tireless fund-raiser, outspent her by a five-to-one margin, and Ferraro failed to establish a political image current with the times.

[3] Unlike the bitter 1992 Democratic senatorial primary, this contest was not divisive, and Ferraro and third-place finisher Green endorsed Schumer at a unity breakfast the following day.

[8][9] Late in the campaign, D'Amato called Schumer a "putzhead" in a private meeting with Jewish supporters ("putz" is Yiddish for penis, and can be slang for "fool").

[8] Though D'Amato was effective in obtaining federal government funds for New York State projects during his Senate career, he failed to capitalize on this in the election.