The New York state Senate meets in the Senate Chamber.

The New York state Senate meets in the Senate Chamber. Credit: AP/Hans Pennink

Find out the candidates Newsday's editorial board selected on your ballot: newsday.com/endorsements2022

Decades of voting trends in New York recently culminated in a milestone Democratic majority in the State Senate; the party now controls 43 of the upper chamber’s 63 seats. That's a two-thirds supermajority plus one. Together with Democratic control of the Assembly, the two houses have the potential to override a governor of any party on any legislation.

That power dynamic could shift on Nov. 8. Under new district lines drawn this year by a court special master, Republicans could pick up at least enough seats to break the two-thirds. Long Island's Senate elections could play a role in that outcome. Right now, Republicans have four Long Island seats, mostly covering swaths of Suffolk County.

In Nassau, the GOP is looking toward turnovers to claw back at least a little of the clout it wielded in previous decades, when the party commanded all nine Long Island seats as part of a solid Senate majority.

Given Long Island's varied terrain and array of communities, it makes more sense for voters to compare and consider the pluses and minuses of individual candidates than to dwell on how their ballots may affect party majorities across the state.

Advocating for the district is crucial to the job — which might require working with members of the opposite party. Some candidates show a better history than others of dealing realistically and cooperatively. This was an important factor the editorial board used in making its recommendations.

We encourage voters to learn about the candidates and how they align or differ on issues, even as their parties stake out general positions.

Democrats, for example, generally support the majority’s goals of passing, for the second time, an Equal Rights Amendment which would allow voters to decide next year whether the state Constitution should be amended to protect the right to an abortion and prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender, nationality and disability. Such rights would not be subject to infringement by a new law or court ruling.

Republicans continue to raise concerns about recent crime spikes by demanding changes to cashless bail and other recent measures passed as part of a national movement toward reducing incarceration for lesser crimes. They say it gave some individuals more incentive to commit violent acts.

Other important issues where candidates assume varying positions include vaccine mandates, environmental protections, climate change challenges, and the role of taxes and regulations in driving people out of New York.

Examine the differences in candidates' stances. And decide with whom you agree.

Click here to see Newsday's 2022 New York State Senate endorsements.

ENDORSEMENTS ARE DETERMINED solely by the Newsday editorial board, a team of opinion journalists focused on issues of public policy and governance. Newsday’s news division has no role in this process.

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