165th New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2025 October 2019 165th January 1, 1945 December 31, 1946 Lt. Gov. Joe R. Hanley (R) Benjamin F. Feinberg (R) Oswald D. Heck (R) 56 150 Republican 1945: (35–21) 1946: (36–19) Republican 1945: (94–55–1) 1946: (94–54–1) 1st January 3 March 24, 1945 2nd January 2 March 26, 1946 164th 166th The 165th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 3, 1945, to March 26, 1946, during the third and fourth years of Thomas E. Dewey's governorship, in Albany. Background In 1943, the Legislature re-apportioned the Senate and Assembly districts. The total number of state senators was increased to 56. Chautauqua, Dutchess, Monroe, Oneida, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Schenectady and Steuben counties lost one Assembly seat each; and New York County lost seven seats. Kings and Westchester counties gained one seat each; Nassau County gained two; Bronx County gained five; and Queens County gained six seats. Thus, under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938, re-apportioned in 1943, 56 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms. The senatorial districts consisted either of one or more entire counties; or a contiguous area within a single county. The counties which were divided into more than one senatorial district were Kings (nine districts), New York (six), Bronx (five), Queens (four), Erie (three), Westchester (three), Monroe (two) and Nassau (two). The Assembly districts consisted either of a single entire county (except Hamilton Co.), or of contiguous area within one county. At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The American Labor Party, the newly organized Liberal Party and the Socialist Labor Party (running under the name of "Industrial Government Party") also nominated tickets. Elections The 1944 New York state election, was held on November 7. The two statewide elective offices up for election were carried by Democrats with American Labor and Liberal endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the average vote for U.S. Senator and Judge of the Court of Appeals, was: Republicans 2,913,000; Democrats 2,432,000; American Labor 476,000; Liberals 320,000; and Industrial Government 16,000. Two of the four women members of the previous legislature—State Senator Rhoda Fox Graves (Rep.), of Gouverneur; and Assemblywoman Mary A. Gillen (Dem.), of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Gladys E. Banks (Rep.), of the Bronx; and Genesta M. Strong (Rep.), of Plandome Heights, were also elected to the Assembly. The 1945 New York state election was held on November 6. No statewide elective offices were up for election. Three vacancies in the State Senate and five vacancies in the Assembly were filled.Republicans Gain Single Seat in N. Y. State Senate in the Geneva Daily Times, of Geneva, on November 7, 1945 Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 168th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 3, 1945; and adjourned on March 24. Oswald D. Heck (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker. Benjamin F. Feinberg (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate. The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 169th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 2, 1946; and adjourned on March 26. State Senate Districts 30em 1st District: Suffolk County 2nd and 3rd District: Parts of Nassau County 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th District: Parts of Queens County, i.e. the Borough of Queens 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th District: Parts of Kings County, i.e. the Borough of Brooklyn 17th District: Richmond County, i.e. the Borough of Richmond (now the Borough of Staten Island) 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd District: Parts of New York County, i.e. the Borough of Manhattan 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th District: Parts of Bronx County, i.e. the Borough of the Bronx 29th, 30th and 31st District: Parts of Westchester County 32nd District: Orange and Rockland counties 33rd District: Columbia, Dutchess and Putnam counties 34th District: Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties 35th District: Albany County 36th District: Rensselaer and Saratoga counties 37th District: Montgomery and Schenectady counties 38th District: Clinton, Essex, Warren and Washington counties 39th District: St. Lawrence and Franklin counties 40th District: Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer and Lewis counties 41st District: Oneida County 42nd District: Jefferson and Oswego counties 43rd District: Onondaga County 44th District: Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Otsego and Schoharie counties 45th District: Broome County 46th District: Chemung, Schuyler, Tioga and Tompkins counties 47th District: Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne counties 48th District: Ontario, Steuben and Yates counties 49th District: Allegany, Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming counties 50th and 51st District: Parts of Monroe County 52nd District: Niagara and Orleans counties 53rd, 54th and 55th District: Parts of Erie County 56th District: Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties Members The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. John D. Bennett, William S. Hults Jr, Roy H. Rudd, Fred G. Moritt, Louis L. Friedman, Isidore Dollinger and Mortimer A. Cullen changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of this Legislature. Assemblymen Arthur Wachtel and Fred S. Hollowell were elected to fill vacancies in the Senate. Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Senator Party Notes 1stPerry B. Duryea Sr.* Republicanon April 11, 1945, appointed as Commissioner of Conservation.P. B. DURYEA IN NEW POST; Dewey Names State Senator to Be Conservation Commissioner in The New York Times on April 12, 1945 (subscription required)W. Kingsland Macy Republicanon November 6, 1945, elected to fill vacancy; on November 5, 1946, elected to the 80th U.S. Congress2ndJohn D. Bennett* Republican3rdWilliam S. Hults Jr.* Republican4thSeymour Halpern* Republican5thFrederic E. Hammer Republican6thJohn V. Downey* Dem./Am. Labor7thWilliam N. Conrad Democrat8thJames J. Crawford* Dem./Lib.9thRoy H. Rudd* Democrat10thJames A. Corcoran* Democrat11thFred G. Moritt* Dem./Am. Labor12thSamuel L. Greenberg* Dem./Am. Labor13thWilliam Kirnan* Democrat14thJoseph E. ParisiRepublican15thLouis L. Friedman* Democrat16thWilliam Rosenblatt Democrat17thRobert S. Bainbridge* Republican18thElmer F. Quinn* DemocratMinority LeaderQUINN NAMED LEADER TO SUCCEED DUNNIGAN in The New York Times on January 3, 1945 (subscription required)19thFrancis J. Mahoney* Democrat20thFrederic R. Coudert Jr.* Republicanon November 5, 1946, elected to the 80th U.S. Congress21stGordon I. Novod Democrat22ndRichard A. DiCostanzo* Rep./Am. Labor23rdAlexander A. Falk* Dem./Am. Labor 24thLazarus Joseph* Dem./Am. Laboron November 6, 1945, elected New York City Comptroller The seat remained vacant throughout the session of 1946 25thCarl Pack* Dem./Am. Labordied on August 7, 1945Arthur Wachtel* Democraton November 6, 1945, elected to fill vacancy26thIsidore Dollinger* Dem./Am. Labor27thPaul A. Fino Republican28thLowell H. Brown Rep./Am. Labor29thWilliam F. Condon* Republican30thJ. Raymond McGovern Republican31stPliny W. Williamson* Republican32ndThomas C. Desmond* Republican33rdFrederic H. Bontecou* Republican34thArthur H. Wicks* RepublicanChairman of Finance35thMortimer A. Cullen* Dem./Am. Labor36thGilbert T. Seelye* Republican37thThomas F. Campbell Republican38thBenjamin F. Feinberg* Rep./Am. Laborre-elected Temporary President39thRhoda Fox Graves* Republican40thFred A. Young* Rep./Dem.41stVincent R. Corrou Dem./Am. Labor42ndIsaac B. Mitchell* Republican43rdRichard P. Byrne Dem./Am. Labor44thWalter W. Stokes* Republican45thFloyd E. Anderson* Republican46thChauncey B. Hammond* Republican47thHenry W. Griffith* Republican 48thEarle S. Warner* Republicanon January 22, 1945, appointed to the New York Supreme CourtWARNER CONFIRMED FOR SUPREME COURT in The New York Times on January 23, 1945 (subscription required)Fred S. Hollowell* Republicanon March 6, 1945, elected to fill vacancy.Hollowell Goes to State Senate in The New York Times on March 8, 1945 (subscription required)49thAustin W. Erwin* Republican50thRodney B. Janes* Republican51stAllen J. Oliver* Republican52ndWilliam Bewley* Rep./Dem.53rdWalter J. Mahoney* Republican 54thStephen J. Wojtkowiak* Dem./Am. Labordied on April 6, 1945Edmund P. Radwan Republicanon November 6, 1945, elected to fill vacancy55thCharles O. Burney Jr.* Republican56thGeorge H. Pierce* Rep./Am. Labor Employees Clerk: William S. King Assistant Clerk: Pat E. Provenzano State Assembly Assemblymen Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Assemblymen Party Notes Albany1stCharles C. Wallace Dem./Am. labor2ndGeorge W. Foy* Dem./Am. Labor3rdJames F. Dillon Dem./Am. Labor AlleganyWilliam H. MacKenzie* Rep./Am. Labor Bronx1stPatrick J. Fogarty* Dem./Am. Labor2ndSidney A. Fine Dem./Am. Labor3rdEdward T. Galloway Dem./Am. Labor4thMatthew J. H. McLaughlin* Democrat 5thArthur Wachtel* Dem./Am. Laborresigned to run for the State Senate The seat remained vacant throughout the session of 19466thJulius J. Gans* Dem./Am. Labor7thLouis Peck Democrat8thLouis Bennett* Dem./Am. Labor9thFrancis T. Murphy Democrat10thJohn J. DePasquale Republican11thGladys E. Banks Republican12thNathan A. Lashin Dem./Am. Labor13thLeo Isacson Am. Labor/Rep. Broome1stRichard H. Knauf* Rep./Am. Labor2ndOrlo M. Brees* Republican CattaraugusLeo P. Noonan* Republican CayugaJames H. Chase* Republican ChautauquaE. Herman Magnuson* Rep./Am. Labor ChemungHarry J. Tifft* Republican ChenangoIrving M. Ives* Rep./Dem./A.L.Majority Leader; on November 5, 1946, elected to the U.S. Senate ClintonLeslie G. Ryan* Rep./Am. Labor ColumbiaFrederick A. Washburn* Republican CortlandHarold L. Creal* Republican DelawareElmer J. Kellam* Republican DutchessErnest I. Hatfield* Republican Erie1stFrank A. Gugino* Republican2ndJustin C. Morgan* Republican3rdWilliam J. Butler* Republican4thJohn P. Quinn* Dem./Am. Labor5thPhilip V. Baczkowski* Dem./Am. Labor6thGeorge F. Dannebrock Republican7thJulius Volker Republican8thJohn R. Pillion* Republican EssexSheldon F. Wickes* Rep./Dem.appointed as County JudgeL. Judson Morhouse Republicanon November 6, 1945, elected to fill vacancy FranklinWilliam L. Doige* Rep./Dem. Fulton and HamiltonJoseph R. Younglove* Rep./Dem. GeneseeHerbert A. Rapp* Republican GreeneWilliam E. Brady* Republican HerkimerLeo A. Lawrence* Rep./Dem./A.L. JeffersonOrin S. Wilcox Republican Kings1stMax M. Turshen* Dem./Am. Labor2ndJ. Sidney Levine Dem./Lib.3rdMary A. Gillen* Democrat4thBernard Austin* Dem./Am. Labor5thJohn R. Starkey* Dem./Am. Labor6thRobert J. Crews* Rep./Am. Labor7thJohn F. Furey* Dem./Am. Labor8thArthur A. Low Dem./Am. Labor9thFrank J. McMullen Republican10thLewis W. Olliffe* Rep./Am. Labor11thEugene F. Bannigan* Dem./Am. Labor12thJames W. Feely* Dem./Am. Labor13thLawrence P. Murphy Democrat14thHarry Gittleson* Dem./Am. Labor15thJohn Smolenski* Democrat16thFrank J. Pino Democrat17thJohn J. Walsh Democrat18thIrwin Steingut* Dem./Am. LaborMinority Leader19thPhilip J. Schupler Dem./Lib.20thJohn E. Beck Republican21stThomas A. Dwyer* Dem./Am. Labor22ndAnthony J. Travia* Democrat23rdAlfred A. Lama* Dem./Am. Labor24thPhilip Blank Democrat LewisBenjamin H. Demo* Rep./Dem. LivingstonJoseph W. Ward* Republican MadisonWheeler Milmoe* Republican Monroe1stFrank J. Sellmayer Jr.* Republican2ndAbraham Schulman* Republican3rdGeorge T. Manning* Republican4thThomas F. Riley* Republican MontgomeryJohn F. Bennison* Republican Nassau1stFrank J. Becker Republican2ndJoseph F. Carlino Republican3rdGenesta M. Strong Republican4thDavid S. Hill Jr. Republican New York1stMacNeil Mitchell* Republican2ndLouis DeSalvio* Democrat3rdOwen McGivern* Democrat4thLeonard Farbstein* Democrat5thIrwin D. Davidson* Dem./Am. Labor6thFrancis X. McGowan* Democrat7thPatrick H. Sullivan* Dem./Am. Labor8thArchibald Douglas Jr. Republican9thJohn R. Brook* Republican10thJohn P. Morrissey* Democrat11thWilliam E. Prince Democrat12thWilliam T. Andrews* Dem./Am. Labor13thDaniel Flynn* Democrat14thHulan E. Jack* Dem./Am. Labor15thWilliam J. A. Glancy* Democrat16thHamlet O. Catenaccio* Rep./Am. Labor Niagara1stJacob E. Hollinger* Rep./Dem. 2ndHarry D. Suitor* Republicandied on March 25, 1945Ernest Curto Rep./Am. Laboron November 6, 1945, elected to fill vacancy Oneida1stHarlow E. Bacon Republican2ndFrank A. Emma* Dem./Am. Labor Onondaga1stLeo W. Breed* Republican2ndClellan S. Forsythe Republican 3rdFrank J. Costello* Republicanon November 6, 1945, elected Mayor of SyracuseLawrence M. Rulison Republicanon December 18, 1945, elected to fill vacancy OntarioHarry R. Marble* Republican Orange1stLee B. Mailler* Republican2ndWilson C. Van Duzer* Republican OrleansJohn S. Thompson* Republican OswegoHenry D. Coville* Republican OtsegoPaul L. Talbot Republican PutnamD. Mallory Stephens* RepublicanChairman of Ways and Means Queens1stAlexander Del Giorno Democrat2ndWilliam E. Clancy* Dem./Am. Labor3rdJoseph H. Brinster Republican4thCharles J. Dalzell* Dem./Am. Labor5thThomas F. Hurley Republican6thWilliam F. Bowe* Dem./Am. Labor7thGeorge Archinal* Republican8thSamuel Rabin Republican9thFred W. Preller Republican10thAngelo Graci Republican11thThomas Fitzpatrick Dem./Am. Labor 12thJohn H. Ferril* Dem./Am. Labordied on February 23, 1945James J. Crisona Dem./Am. Laboron November 6, 1945, elected to fill vacancy RensselaerJohn S. Finch* Republican Richmond1stArthur T. Berge Republican2ndEdmund P. Radigan Republican RocklandRobert Walmsley* Republican St. LawrenceAllan P. Sill* Republican SaratogaRichard J. Sherman* Republicanappointed as County JudgeJohn L. Ostrander Republicanon November 6, 1945, elected to fill vacancy SchenectadyOswald D. Heck* Republicanre-elected Speaker SchoharieArthur L. Parsons* Republican SchuylerJerry W. Black Republican SenecaLawrence W. Van Cleef* Republican SteubenWilliam M. Stuart* Republican Suffolk1stEdmund R. Lupton* Republican2ndElisha T. Barrett* Republican SullivanJames G. Lyons Dem./Am. Labor TiogaMyron D. Albro* Republican TompkinsStanley C. Shaw* Republican UlsterJohn F. Wadlin* Republican WarrenHarry A. Reoux* RepublicanChairman of Judiciary WashingtonHenry Neddo* Republican WayneHenry V. Wilson* Republican Westchester1stMalcolm Wilson* Republican2ndFred A. Graber Republican3rdP. Raymond Sirignano Republican4thFrank S. McCullough Republican5thChristopher H. Lawrence* Republican6thTheodore Hill Jr.* Republican WyomingHarold C. Ostertag* Republican YatesFred S. Hollowell* Republicanresigned to run for the State SenateVernon W. Blodgett Republicanon November 6, 1945, elected to fill vacancy Employees Clerk: Ansley B. Borkowski Notes Sources Know Your Legislature in The State Employee (January 1945, Vol. 14, No. 1, pg. 20ff) Members of the New York Senate (1940s) at Political Graveyard Members of the New York Assembly (1940s) at Political Graveyard 165 State Legislature State Legislature New York State Legislature New York State Legislature