State

State Senator, 46th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on New York laws and the state budget and confirms the Governor's appointments.

Covers Montgomery County, part of Albany County and part of Schenectady County.

Candidates Compare by issue

Martha G. McHugh

Republican, Conservative

Small business owner; former state health official

The gist

Supports pausing or rolling back the state climate law's mandates.
Proposes down-payment assistance and fair lending for families.
Proposes expanding career and technical education and apprenticeships.
Supports independent redistricting that bans partisan maps.

More about Martha

View sources (1)

Supports pausing or rolling back the state climate law's mandates.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: New York Senate District 46 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (answers written by the candidates) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“keeping natural gas available, and rolling back or pausing the CLCPA's mandates and carbon-pricing plans”
Proposes down-payment assistance and fair lending for families.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: New York Senate District 46 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (answers written by the candidates) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would pursue down-payment assistance and fair lending so families can build wealth in the neighborhoods they grew up in.”
Proposes expanding career and technical education and apprenticeships.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: New York Senate District 46 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (answers written by the candidates) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would expand career and technical education and apprenticeships”
Supports independent redistricting that bans partisan maps.
VOTE411 Voter Guide: New York Senate District 46 (candidate questionnaire)
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters Education Fund (answers written by the candidates) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“those rules must include a clear, enforceable prohibition on drawing districts to favor one party over another”

Patricia A. Fahy

Democratic, Working FamiliesIncumbent

State Senator

The gist

Sponsored the nation's first gun industry liability law.In office
Sponsored the nation's first right-to-repair law.In office
Sponsored law setting a 30% land conservation goal by 2030.In office
Voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act (2025).In office
Voted for the 2026 redistricting constitutional amendment.In office
Voted for the packaging reduction and recycling act (2025).In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Patricia

View sources (4)

Sponsored the nation's first gun industry liability law.
About Senator Patricia A. Fahy (senator biography)
Government record · New York State Senate · nysenate.gov
“the nation’s first Gun Industry Liability Law to hold gun manufacturers accountable for their role in the gun violence crisis”
Sponsored the nation's first right-to-repair law.
About Senator Patricia A. Fahy (senator biography)
Government record · New York State Senate · nysenate.gov
“the nation’s first Right to Repair legislation”
Sponsored law setting a 30% land conservation goal by 2030.
About Senator Patricia A. Fahy (senator biography)
Government record · New York State Senate · nysenate.gov
“establishing a 30x30 conservation goal to protect 30% of the state’s land and water by 2030”
Voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act (2025).
S138 (2025-26), Medical Aid in Dying Act: bill page and roll calls
Government record · New York State Senate · nysenate.gov
“Relates to the medical aid in dying act”
Voted for the 2026 redistricting constitutional amendment.
S10637A (2025-26), constitutional amendment on the Independent Redistricting Commission: bill page and roll call
Government record · New York State Senate · nysenate.gov
“Updates provisions relating to the independent redistricting commission”
Voted for the packaging reduction and recycling act (2025).
S1464A (2025-26), Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act: bill page and roll calls
Government record · New York State Senate · nysenate.gov
“Enacts the "packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act"”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.