Stec Wins Re-Election in 45th District
Incumbent Republican Dan Stec defeated Democrat Melissa Seale in the New York state Senate race for the 45th District.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Dan Stec won re-election as New York state senator for the 45th District, leading Democrat Melissa Seale by nearly 13 points with over 80% of votes counted. Stec has represented the district for six years.
Why it matters
The result returns an incumbent to his seat after a contest that turned on local law enforcement cooperation with ICE and the fate of former state prisons. Both candidates backed a constitutional amendment that would make three vacant prisons available for development.
With over 80% of votes counted, Stec led Seale by nearly 13 points in the 45th District race. Final certified totals were not available at the time of reporting.
The players
Dan Stec
Dan Stec is an incumbent Republican New York state senator who has represented the 45th District for six years and is a Queensbury native.
Melissa Seale
Melissa Seale is a Democrat and Glens Falls nurse practitioner who ran in her first political race against Stec in the 45th District.
The details
Stec, a Queensbury native, does not support the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act passed this year and backs local law enforcement working with ICE on immigration. Seale, a Glens Falls nurse practitioner and political newcomer, opposes that cooperation and supports more services for corrections workers; both candidates support repeal of the HALT Act.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Election day, when Stec defeated Seale in the 45th District race.
Political Context
Stec does not support the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act passed this year, while supporting local police cooperation with ICE on immigration. The race turned on whether local law enforcement should work with federal immigration authorities, a question that divided the two candidates.
Voters in the 45th District now have a state senator whose position on local police cooperation with ICE and the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act will shape state policy for another term. Residents in the district will see how the proposed prison amendment and HALT Act repeal are handled in the next legislative session.
The takeaway
Local legislative races can determine how state laws on immigration enforcement and prison land are applied. Voters who track these issues can follow the next session to see whether the candidates' positions translate into policy.
Further reading
For more on how state legislative races are shaping policy, see Elections coverage across New York.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Wcax.
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