The Gist
Home

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.

Public safety

  • Martha G. McHughRepublican, Conservative

    No documented position found.

  • Patricia A. FahyDemocratic, Working Families

    • Sponsored the nation's first gun industry liability law.In office

Education

  • Martha G. McHughRepublican, Conservative

    • Proposes expanding career and technical education and apprenticeships.
  • Patricia A. FahyDemocratic, Working Families

    No documented position found.

Housing

  • Martha G. McHughRepublican, Conservative

    • Proposes down-payment assistance and fair lending for families.
  • Patricia A. FahyDemocratic, Working Families

    No documented position found.

Economy & jobs

  • Martha G. McHughRepublican, Conservative

    No documented position found.

  • Patricia A. FahyDemocratic, Working Families

    • Sponsored the nation's first right-to-repair law.In office

Environment & parks

  • Martha G. McHughRepublican, Conservative

    • Supports pausing or rolling back the state climate law's mandates.
  • Patricia A. FahyDemocratic, Working Families

    • Sponsored law setting a 30% land conservation goal by 2030.In office
    • Voted for the packaging reduction and recycling act (2025).In office

Health & human services

  • Martha G. McHughRepublican, Conservative

    No documented position found.

  • Patricia A. FahyDemocratic, Working Families

    • Voted for the Medical Aid in Dying Act (2025).In office

Government & transparency

  • Martha G. McHughRepublican, Conservative

    • Supports independent redistricting that bans partisan maps.
  • Patricia A. FahyDemocratic, Working Families

    • Voted for the 2026 redistricting constitutional amendment.In office

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.