2012 New York Senate - Long vs. Gillibrand

Since the founding of the Republican Party in the 1850s, New York politics was divided between Republican upstate and Democratic New York City.  The growth of the suburbs and the movement of the white working class toward the party of Eisenhower moved the balance toward the Republicans for a while.  But as the suburbs turned back toward the Democrats in the 1990s and 2000s, the state likewise became solidly Democratic.

This shift came as a result of President Clinton's policies, and benefited one Hillary Rodham Clinton.  She won a seat in the Senate in 2000, and followed it up with a resounding victory in 2006.  After Hillary became President Obama's secretary of state in 2009, Gov. David Paterson appointed Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand to the seat.

Although some polls showed a close race, Gillibrand ended up winning a solid 25-point victory over former Rep. Joe DioGuardi to fill out the remainder of Clinton's term.  Although the incumbent's voting record in the House had been moderate, it has been more liberal in the Senate.  Gillibrand is up for an election to a full term this year; her opponent is former congressional aide Wendy Long.