Indian American state senator defeats Republican Orlando Rivera in New York’s 2026 midterm elections, extending his political career in Rochester.
New York State Sen. Jeremy Cooney won re-election to the 56th Senate District in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections, defeating Republican candidate Orlando Rivera and securing another term in the state legislature.
According to unofficial results reported by WXXI News at 11:30 p.m. on Election Day, Cooney received 66.50% of the vote, compared with 32.76% for Rivera. The result gave the incumbent Democrat a lead of 33.74 percentage points.
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The New York State Senate District 56 race covers Monroe County, including parts of Rochester. The New York State Board of Elections’ results, as reported by WXXI, showed all election districts reporting in the district. The victory came as Democrats regained a supermajority in the New York State Senate. The party entered Election Day with a 41-22 advantage and needed to regain only one additional seat to restore the supermajority it had lost in 2024.
Who is Jeremy Cooney? From Kolkata to New York politics
Cooney’s personal journey began in Kolkata, India, where he was born and adopted from an orphanage by a single mother from Rochester, New York.
He was raised in Rochester’s South Wedge neighborhood in an Irish American family. His adoptive mother was a professor at Monroe Community College and played an important role in shaping his interest in education and public service.
According to his official New York State Senate biography, Cooney became the first Asian American elected to state office from upstate New York in 2020. He was also the first state senator in decades to graduate from the Rochester City School District.
Although born in India, Cooney grew up in the United States and has spoken about his connection to his Indian heritage. In 2025, he introduced a New York Senate resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of India’s Constitution, reflecting his interest in maintaining his connection with his birthplace.
Educational background
Cooney completed his schooling in Rochester, graduating from the city’s School of the Arts, where he studied vocal music.
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His educational qualifications include:
- Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Arts with honors from Hobart College, part of Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
- Law degree: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Albany Law School.
- College leadership: Served as student body president at Hobart College.
- Law school leadership: Served as class president and was associated with the editorial board of the Albany Law Review.
His academic background in public policy and law helped shape his subsequent career in government and public administration.
Political career and previous election results
Cooney’s political career began before his election to the New York State Senate. He worked on Capitol Hill for the late Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and later held several positions in New York state and local government.
He served as chief of staff to Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and worked as senior director for community relations at Empire State Development, the state’s economic development agency. He also worked with former New York Gov. David Paterson and held positions in the private and nonprofit sectors before entering electoral politics.
His first attempt in 2018 ended in defeat against incumbent Republican Joe Robach. Cooney returned in 2020, defeated Republican Michael Barry Jr. and flipped the seat for Democrats.
His electoral record includes the following:
| Election year | Opponent | Result |
| 2018 | Joe Robach (Republican) | Lost, 44.4% |
| 2020 | Michael Barry Jr. (Republican) | Won, 55.7% |
| 2022 | Jim VanBrederode (Republican) | Won, 52.9% |
| 2024 | Jim VanBrederode (Republican) | Won, 58.9% |
| 2026 | Orlando Rivera (Republican) | Won, 66.5% |
He subsequently secured re-election in 2022 and 2024, increasing his vote share in each successive general election.
The 2026 victory represents his fourth consecutive general-election win since entering the state Senate.
Legislative work and leadership
During his time in the state Senate, Cooney has worked on education, infrastructure, economic development and transportation policy.
Some of his major legislative contributions include:
- Green CHIPS Act (2022): He helped advance legislation signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to attract semiconductor manufacturing investments and create jobs in New York.
- Rochester School Modernization Project: He supported legislation implementing the project’s final phase, directing nearly $500 million toward improving school facilities.
- Cannabis legislation: He was named co-chair of the Marijuana Task Force of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus in 2021 and contributed to efforts to legalize adult-use recreational marijuana.
- Transportation: He became chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee in 2024, focusing on infrastructure modernization, public transportation and high-speed rail.
According to his Senate biography, Cooney has written approximately 150 legislative bills. His latest re-election gives him another term representing Rochester and surrounding communities in the New York State Senate.