ALBANY – Democrats are positioned to pick up a Republican state Senate seat upstate and are within striking distance of another that was drawn to favor the GOP as the parties fight for control of the chamber, a new poll shows.
The Siena College poll released today shows Democrat Ted O’Brien with an 11-point lead over GOP Assemblyman Sean Hanna, 50-39 percent, for the Rochester-area seat of retiring Republican James Alesi – turning around a race Hanna had led by eight points a month ago.
The survey also showed Democrat Cecilia Tkaczyk within three points, 47-44, of heavily favored Republican Assemblyman George Amedore for an Albany area seat that was drawn by the Republicans who now control the Senate 33-29 to favor Amedore.
In another Albany-area seat, Republican Kathy Marchione holds a lead over the incumbent Republican and gay marriage supporter she knocked off in a primary, Roy McDonald, who quit the race but remains on the ballot on the Independence Party line. Marchione had 40 percent to McDonald’s 29, and 25 percent for Democrat Robin Andrews, the poll found.
“These three seats – two currently held by Republicans – are seen as among the key races in the Democrats’ attempt to retake the majority in the Senate next year,” said poll spokesman Steven Greenberg.
The state Senate is New York Republicans’ only remaining power base.