Poll Shows Races Tighten for Control of State Senate

New York, NY —

The chamber is currently split, 31-to-30. A two-vote swing would give Democrats their first State Senate majority in more than four decades.

The Siena poll focuses on six races. One of the tightest in the state is in the Ozone Park area of Queens, between 10 term incumbent, Serphin Maltese, a Korean War veteran, and City Council member Joseph Addabo Jr.

Both men are currently supported by 42% of likely voters. Registered Democrats in the district outnumber Republicans two-to-one, and Barack Obama in the same poll leads John McCain by 18 points.

Elsewhere around the state, one other seat remains in a statistical dead heat, in suburban Buffalo. And new York’s two newest state senators – both Democrats elected in special elections – have leads of at least twenty points.

For WNYC, I’m Fred Mogul.