Baskin, Ortt Win Re-Election to State Senate
Incumbent Democrat April Baskin and Republican Robert Ortt were re-elected to New York Senate districts 63 and 62 on Tuesday night.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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State Sen. April Baskin won re-election to New York Senate District 63 on Tuesday night, leading Geoffrey Szymanski with more than 89% of results reporting. Robert Ortt also won re-election in District 62, leading Thomas Arida with more than 97% of results reporting.
Why it matters
The results keep two incumbents in their Senate seats as New York's state legislature continues its current session. Baskin's win also keeps Erie County's Senate representation in the hands of an official who came up through the county legislature.
With more than 89% of results reporting, Baskin held about 70% of the vote against Szymanski as of 11:30 p.m. Ortt held about 60% against Arida with more than 97% of results reporting, and final certified totals were not yet available in the source data.
The players
April Baskin
Democratic state senator who represents New York's 63rd Senate District, which includes Buffalo, and previously served as Majority Leader of the Erie County Legislature.
Robert Ortt
Republican state senator who has represented New York's 62nd Senate District since 2015 and previously served as mayor of North Tonawanda.
The details
Baskin, the first Black woman to represent District 63, previously served on the Erie County Legislature and as its Majority Leader before winning her Senate seat in 2024. Ortt, who was sworn into the Senate in January 2015, previously served as mayor of North Tonawanda from 2010 to 2014. Two Senate races, including District 61 where Jon Rivera ran unopposed, were uncontested.
Timeline
January 2015: Ortt is sworn into the New York State Senate.
January 2025: Baskin takes office as the first Black woman to represent District 63.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election Day, when Baskin and Ortt win re-election.
Political Context
Both races are incumbent re-elections within the existing New York Senate district map, so they continue rather than alter the current party lineup in these seats. Baskin's path from the Erie County Legislature to the state Senate mirrors the county-to-state progression common among New York Senate members.
For New Yorkers in Senate Districts 62 and 63, the incumbents' return means the same state senators will represent their districts in the coming legislative session. Voters in these districts should expect continuity in local Senate representation.
The takeaway
Incumbent re-elections in New York's state Senate often reflect continuity in district representation, and Baskin's and Ortt's returns continue that pattern for these two seats.
Further reading
Explore more on the Elections section for state-level races and results.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wivb4.
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