Hinchey cruises to reelection in 41st Senate District

GREENE COUNTY―Incumbent state Sen. Michelle Hinchey won reelection Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Patrick Sheehan to secure another two-year term representing New York's 41st Senate District.

Hinchey, a Democrat who also ran on the Working Families Party line, received 85,938 votes to Sheehan's 50,956, according to unofficial election results. Sheehan also appeared on the Conservative Party line.

The 41st Senate District encompasses all of Greene and Columbia counties, along with portions of Ulster and Dutchess counties. Both Hinchey and Sheehan hail from Ulster County.

Hinchey, who was first elected in November 2020 and took office in January of 2021, reflected on her six years in the Senate in a statement following Tuesday's election.

"We’ve spent the last six years working to restore people’s faith in government―showing that we can cut through the nonsense and deliver real results that make lives better; that we can fight for the Hudson Valley and communities that feel left behind and get them an active seat at the table; and that we can have some fun doing it," Hinchey said.

She noted how far her electoral margins have grown since her first campaign, when she won by approximately two percentage points.

"In our first race, we flipped a seat by barely two points. But now, after three more elections, I am so proud that this is our largest margin of victory yet," she said.

Hinchey thanked her supporters and pledged to continue her work in Albany.

"Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being a part of our vision for a better New York, a brighter future, and a better world. The work continues, and we’ll do it together."

For Sheehan, an attorney and business owner, Tuesday's defeat marked his third unsuccessful attempt to win a seat in the state Legislature.

He first ran in 2022 against Democrat Sarahana Shrestha for the 103rd Assembly District, losing that contest before redistricting shifted the district's boundaries. He subsequently challenged Hinchey for the 41st Senate District in 2024 but was defeated in that race as well.

In a statement, Sheehan reflected on his campaigns and thanked those who supported him.

"For the past two years I have awaited this day in the hope that New York State can finally change course for the better," Sheehan said. "Running for state office has been a tremendous privilege and honor."

He also expressed appreciation for the people he met throughout his campaigns.

"I have met with so many folks who represent so much diversity of opinion, which is exactly what makes this nation and our state so great," he said. "Thank you to everyone who supported me over these past four years and three election cycles, it's been a helluva ride!"

Tuesday's victory coincided with Hinchey's 39th birthday.

"I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present," she said.