Sen. Jeremy Zellner
Jeremy Zellner, a Democrat representing the D+21 leaning SD-61 district, chairs the Procurement and Contracts Committee and also sits on seven additional committees including Judiciary, Labor, and Housing, Construction and Community Development, though he has sponsored no legislation and recorded no hearing engagements in the 2025 session. First elected in 2025, Zellner has cast 9 votes, all in line with the Democrat caucus, reflecting a 100.0% party loyalty rate. His district is rated Safe D across neutral and favorable Democratic environments, and even under a favorable Republican scenario remains Likely D, supported by a voter registration advantage of 45.4% Democrat to 24.6% Republican. Zellner's campaign raised $729,370 between 2022 and 2026, with 91.5% drawn from individuals, and top donors include Jennifer Persico at $13,000, Vincent Lepera at $12,000, and Desmond Law PC at $10,000, with legal and consulting firms representing a notable share of classified donor industry contributions.AI
Topic Focus AI
Topics extracted by AI from floor speeches, committee hearing transcripts, and sponsored legislation. Bill and hearing citations link to source records for verification. Tag size reflects number of supporting citations.
Legislative Activity (2025–2026)
Based on complete Senate roll call records.
Committee Assignments
Electoral History SD-61
General Elections
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sean M. Ryan 61.8% (88,420) | Christine M. Czarnik 38.2% (54,666) | 23.6pts |
| 2022 | Sean M. Ryan 56.7% (63,901) | Edward A. Rath, III 43.3% (48,805) | 13.4pts |
| 2020 | Edward A. Rath, III 53.8% (79,457) | Jacqualine G. Berger 46.2% (68,230) | ⚡ 7.6pts |
| 2018 | Michael H. Ranzenhofer 54.1% (60,780) | Joan Elizabeth Seamans 45.9% (51,471) | ⚡ 8.3pts |
| 2016 | Michael H. Ranzenhofer 57.6% (75,255) | Thomas A. Loughran 40.9% (53,363) | 16.8pts |
| 2014 | Michael H. Ranzenhofer 65.8% (51,711) | Elaine B. Altman 34.2% (26,836) | 31.7pts |
| 2012 | Michael H. Ranzenhofer 59.0% (73,103) | Justin M. Rooney 41.0% (50,889) | 17.9pts |
| 2010 | Michael H. Ranzenhofer 62.9% (63,467) | Marc A. Coppola 37.1% (37,464) | 25.8pts |
| 2008 | Michael H. Ranzenhofer 52.7% (74,750) | Joe Mesi 47.3% (67,207) | ⚡ 5.3pts |
| 2006 | Mary Lou Rath 68.1% (67,216) | Richard L. Woll 31.9% (31,423) | 36.3pts |
| 2004 | Mary Lou Rath 66.2% (90,594) | Frank J. Longo 33.8% (46,267) | 32.4pts |
| 2002 | Mary Lou Rath 77.0% (71,799) | Marla Greenberg 23.0% (21,469) | 54.0pts |
| 2000 | George D. Maziarz 100.0% (81,052) | Uncontested | — |
| 1998 | George D. Maziarz 74.3% (63,464) | Kevin R. Burns 25.7% (21,984) | 48.5pts |
| 1996 | George D. Maziarz 68.8% (73,808) | Steve Ireland 31.2% (33,494) | 37.6pts |
Primary Elections
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 (Democratic) | Jacqualine G. Berger 38.8% (9,386) | Kim Smith 38.2% (9,232) | ⚡ 0.6pts |
| 2020 (Independence) | Edward A. Rath, III 71.6% (1,003) | Andrew J. Gruszka 28.4% (397) | 43.3pts |
| 2016 (Working Families) | Thomas A. Loughran 78.0% (46) | Andre N. Liszka 22.0% (13) | 55.9pts |
| 2016 (Reform) | Michael H. Ranzenhofer 100.0% (14) | Opportunity To Ballot 0.0% (0) | — |
| 2010 (Independence) | Michael H. Ranzenhofer 66.4% (519) | Andrew J. Gruszka 33.6% (263) | 32.7pts |
| 2008 (Democratic) | Joe Mesi 52.9% (8,611) | Michele M. Iannello 34.6% (5,632) | 18.3pts |
| 2008 (Independence) | Michael H. Ranzenhofer 73.0% (413) | William J. Walters 27.0% (153) | 45.9pts |
| 2006 (Independence) | Mary Lou Rath 66.0% (349) | Richard L. Woll 34.0% (180) | 31.9pts |
| 2000 (Right to Life) | George Maziarz 100.0% (9) | Uncontested | — |
| 1998 (Right to Life) | George Maziarz 100.0% (58) | Uncontested | — |
| 1996 (Right to Life) | George D. Maziarz 97.0% (96) | John LaFalce 2.0% (2) | 94.9pts |
Special Elections
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | George D. Maziarz 39.8% (14,069) | John W. Cole 34.5% (12,187) | ⚡ 5.3pts |
Source: NYS Board of Elections certified results. ⚡ = margin under 10 pts.
Vulnerability Index SD-61
Base lean: D+21
- District redrawn after 2020 Census — limited same-boundary history
Scenario model: ±5pt national environment shift applied to district base lean (D+21). Base lean blends voter registration (40%) with recent contested general election margins (60%), using up to the last 4 general elections with margins under 40 points. Ratings: Safe D/R = 20+ pts, Likely = 10–19 pts, Lean = 4–9 pts, Toss-up = within 3 pts. Generic ballot from Silver Bulletin (Nate Silver), as of 5/20/2026 — see current figure on the district map. Not a prediction — reflects structural competitiveness under different cycle environments.
Top Co-Sponsors
District 61 Profile
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). Voter registration: NYS Board of Elections (Nov. 2025).
Voter Registration
Campaign Finance (2022–2026)
Top Donors
Donor Industries top donors
Source: NYS Board of Elections via data.ny.gov. Itemized monetary contributions only. ↔ Bills = donor industry aligns with bill sponsorship focus area.
Data through 2026-03-28.
Demographics
Commute Mode
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). Race and ethnicity figures may not sum to 100% — Hispanic/Latino is an ethnicity category that overlaps with racial groups.
Voting Record
From 9 recorded floor votes via OpenLeg API. Dissenting votes grouped by law section to reveal policy patterns.
Votes through 2026-02-10.
Floor Speeches: In Support (1) AI
Argued the budget helps maintain services and programs as the federal government cuts healthcare, food subsidies, and imposes tariffs on New Yorkers.