Two special general elections were held for New York State Assembly Districts 60 and 72 on Feb. 15.
Nikki Lucas (D) won the District 60 special election with 2,074 votes, defeating Keron Alleyne (Working Families Party) and Marvin King (R, Conservative Party). The District 60 special election was called after Charles Barron (D) was sworn in as a New York City council member on Jan. 1. Barron served in the state Assembly from 2015 to 2021.
Manny De Los Santos (D) won the District 72 special election with 1,425 votes, defeating Edwin De La Cruz (R) and Nayma Silver-Matos (Uptown Rises). The District 72 special election was called after Carmen N. De La Rosa (D) was sworn in as a New York City council member on Jan. 1. De La Rosa served in the state Assembly from 2017 to 2021.
The filing deadline for both special elections passed on Jan. 18. Lucas and De Los Santos were sworn in on Feb 17.
As of February, 39 state legislative special elections have been scheduled for 2022 in 19 states. Between 2011 and 2021, an average of 74 special elections took place each year. New York held 48 special elections from 2010 to 2021, the third-most of any state.
Entering the special election, the New York State Assembly had 105 Democrats, 43 Republicans, one independent, and one vacancy. A majority in the chamber requires 76 seats. New York has a Democratic trifecta. A state government trifecta exists when one political party simultaneously holds the governor’s office and both state legislative chambers.
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