Right now, Democrats need to pick up two state Senate seats to gain a majority and begin the process of curing the dysfunction that is Albany politics. Since state politicians often are not very well known (even to folks who follow politics closely), it might be helpful to take an thumbnail overview of who's in there right now and who might be worth some additional focus on now and in the future.

A few casual observations about the State Senate:

• The State Senate has 62 members, all elected to two-year terms in even-numbered years. The current partisan division is 30 Democrats / 32 Republicans. The Republicans have had a majority since 1965.
• The upstate/downstate divide is clearly evident in the partisan makeup of the Senate. This can be attributed to some extent to Gerrymandering that dilutes upstate Democratic electability, although there are, obviously, legitimate cultural and political distinctions between NYC and the rest of the state. While the City is almost completely in Democratic hands (Padavan, Maltese, Golden and Lanza being the notable exceptions), only one of the ten Long Island districts and five of the 25 upstate districts are Democratic.
• The seven longest-serving members are all Republicans. The three longest-serving members are Long Islanders first elected in 1972 (when Nixon beat McGovern in a landslide): Caesar Trunzo (SD-3), Owen Johnson (SD-4), and Frank Padavan (SD-11).
• By contrast, seven of the nine most-recently elected members are Democrats, including all four of the special elections since the last regular election in 2006.
• The average tenure for the Republican caucus is 17.7 years, versus 9.4 years for the Democratic caucus.
• Seven of the Republicans list military service in their biographies, including a pair of WW II veterans (Trunzo and Larkin). Only one Democrat lists military service, and that Senator (Diaz) is also the only ordained minister in the Senate.
• Most Senators were born in New York State and many represent the districts where they were raised.

For those seeking more information on the State Senate races:

• The Albany Project is the definitive blog covering news and rumors on state legislative races and Albany politics in general.
• NY Capitol News is an excellent online magazine covering Albany.
• ActBlue has a donation page specificaly for Democratic State Senate challengers, although (as of this writing) the page is not complete and some of the candidates appear to be holdover listings for candidates from 2006 that have not announced whether they will be running in 2008.
• The NY Democratic Senate Campaign Committee is the official Democratic coordinator for the effort to take control of the State Senate.

A complete list of the senators (and challengers) follows the fold...

The Republicans

Kenneth LaValle
District 1: Port Jefferson (Eastern Long Island, north and south forks)
First elected 1976
Brooklyn native. J.D. from Touro College

John Flanagan
District 2: Smithtown, Brookhaven, Huntington (North-central Long Island)
First elected 2002. His Father served in the Assembly from 1973 - 1986
Huntington native. J.D. from Touro College
Campaign website: FlanaganForSenate.com

Caesar Trunzo
District 3: Brentwood, Patchogue, Fire Island (South-central Long Island)
First elected 1972
Brooklyn native. Heffley & Browne Business College. U.S. Army from 1944-1946
Campaign website: SenatorCaesarTrunzo.com
2008 Dem. Challengers: Jimmy Dahroug, Brian Foley

Owen Johnson
District 4: Babylon, Bay Shore, Suffolk County (South-central Long Island)
First elected 1972
B.A. History/Political Science from Hofstra University. Former Marine

Carl Marcellino
District 5: Syosset, Eastern Nassau and Western Suffolk Counties (Northwest Long Island)
First elected 1995
Brooklyn native. BA/MS from NYU. Former NYC public school science teacher and administrator
Campaign website: www.CarlMarcellino.net

Kemp Hannon
District 6: Garden City, Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Nassau County (Western Long Island)
First elected 1989
Attorney
2008 Dem. Challenger: Garden City attorney Kristen McElroy

Charles Fuschillo, Jr.
District 8: Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Nassau County (Southwest Long Island)
First elected 1998
Native of Carle Place. BBA in Finance from Adelphi University

Dean Skelos
District 9: Rockville Center, Southwest corner of Nassau County (Southwest Long Island)
First elected 1984
Rockville Centre native. J.D. from Fordham University
Campaign website: Skelos.org
2008 Dem. Challenger: Hofstra law professor Roy Simon

Frank Padavan
District 11: Northeast Queens, Northwest Nassau County (Southwest Long Island)
First elected 1972
Queens native. MBA from NYU. 30 years veteran of Army Corps of Engineers
2008 Dem. Challenger: NY City Councilman James Gennaro

Serph Maltese
District 15: Middle Village, Glendale, Howard Beach (South-central Queens)
First elected 1988
Corona native. LL.B. and J.D. from Fordham Univ. Korean War veteran
2008 Dem. Challengers: Joseph Addabbo, Jr., Albert Baldeo

Marty Golden
District 22: Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Southwest Brooklyn
First elected 2002
Graduate of St. John's University. NYPD veteran. Former NY City Councilman

Andrew Lanza
District 24: Staten Island
First elected 2006
Staten Island native. J.D. from Fordham University. Former NY City Council member and prosecutor

Thomas Morahan
District 38: Rockland and southern Orange Counties (South-central NY State)
First elected 1999
Former Rockland County Legislator and Assemblyman
Campaign website: MorahanForSenate.com

Bill Larkin, Jr.
District 39: Orange and Ulster Counties (Southern NY State)
First elected 1990
Native of Troy. WW II and Korean War veteran. Former Assemblyman
2008 Dem. Challenger: Orange County financial consultant Lawrence Delarose

Vincent Leibell III
District 40: Northern Westchester and Putnam Counties (Southeast NY State)
First elected 1994
NYC native. J.D. from St. John's University. Former Assemblyman
Campaign website: SenatorVinnieLeibell.com

Stephen Saland
District 41: Poughkeepsie, Dutchess and Columbia Counties (Eastern NY State)
First elected 1991
Poughkeepsie native. J.D. from Rutgers. Former Assemblyman
Campaign website: SteveSaland.com
2008 Dem. Challenger: Columbia County Commissioner of Elections Ken Dow

John Bonacic
District 42: Delaware/Sullivan/Ulster/Orange Counties (South-central NY State)
First elected 1990
NYC native. J.D. from Fordham Law School. Former Orange County legislator

43) Joe Bruno
District 43: Renssalaer and Saratoga Counties (Eastern NY, just east of Albany)
First elected 1976
Native of Glens Falls. B.A. in Business Administration from Skidmore College. Korean war veteran
Retiring at the end of 2008 term
2008 Dem. Challenger: Brunswick attorney Brian Premo

Hugh Farley
District 44: East-central NY - North of Albany
First elected 1976
Native of Watertown. J.D. from American Univ. School of Law. Former business professor. Army veteran
2008 Dem. Challenger: Retired engineer (and Iranian native) B.K. Keramati

Elizabeth O'C. Little
District 45: Plattsburgh (Northeast corner of NY State)
First elected 2002
Native of Glens Falls. Elementary Ed degree from College of St. Rose. Former teacher and realtor. Former Assemblywoman

Joseph Griffo
District 47: Oneida, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties (North-central NY state)
First elected 2006
Native of Rome, NY. B.A. Poly Sci from SUNY Brockport. Former Mayor of Rome and Oneida County Executive
2008 Dem. Challenger: Michael Boncella

John DeFrancisco
District 50: Syracuse (central NY state)
First elected 1992
Syracuse native. J.D. from Duke. Former law professor

James Seward
District 51: Central NY State
First elected 1986
Native of Oneonta. B.A. Poly Sci from Hartwick College. Former Milford Town Justice
2008 Dem. Challenger: Businessman and civic leader Don Barber

Thomas Libous
District 52: Binghamton, Broome, Tioga and Chenango Counties (South-central NY State)
First elected 1988
Johnson City native. Graduate SUNY-Utica. Former Binghamton City Councilman

George Winner, Jr.
District 53: Ithaca, Chemung/Schuyler/Steuben/Yates Counties (South-central NY State)
First elected 2004
Graduate of St. Lawrence University. Former 26-year Assemblyman
2008 Dem. Challenger: Elmira Mayor John Tonello

Michael Nozzolio
District 54: Geneva, Seneca County, (North-central NY state)
First elected 1991
Native of Seneca Falls. J.D. from Syracuse Univ. Former Assemblyman
2008 Dem. Challenger: Webster family law attorney Paloma Capanna

James Alesi
District 55: Areas around Rochester (Northwest NY State)
First elected 1994
East Rochester native. Former Deputy Town Leader, Monroe County Legislator and Assemblyman
2008 Dem. Challenger: Pittsford businessman David Nachbar

Joseph Robach
District 56: Rochester, (North-central NY State)
First elected 2002
Rochester native. Master of Public Admin. from SUNY Brockport. Filled his father's seat in the NY State Assembly
Campaign website: www.JoeRobach.org
2008 Dem. Challengers: Former State Senator Rick Dollinger, Army reservist and community leader Willa Powell

Catharine Young
District 57: Southwest corner of NY State
First elected 2003
Livingston County native. Bachelor's in Mass Comm. from St. Bonaventure Univ. Former reporter and Assemblywoman
Campaign website: CathyYoungForSenate.com

Dale Volker
District 59: Erie, Canandaigua (Western NY State)
First elected 1975
Lancaster native. J.D. SUNY/Buffalo Law School. Former police officer and Assemblyman
2008 Dem. Challenger: Erie County Legislator Kathy Konst

Mary Lou Rath
District 61: Erie, Tonawanda, Batavia (Northwest NY State)
First elected 1993
Erie County native. B.S. from Buffalo State Teacher's College. Former Erie County Legislator
Retiring in 2008 - Republican successor Mike Ranzenhofer
2008 Dem. Challenger: Michele Iannello, Joe Mesi, or Dan Ward

George Maziarz
District 62: Northwest NY State along Lake Ontario
First elected: 1995
Native of North Tonawanda. B.A. History from Niagara University. Former Niagara County Clerk

The Democrats

Craig Johnson
District 7: Port Washington, North Hempstead, Northwest Nassau County
First elected 2007
Port Washington native. J.D. from St. John's University. Former Nassau County legislator
2008 Rep. Challenger: Barbara Donno

Shirley Huntley
District 10: Jamaica, Southern Queens County
First elected 2007
Runs maintenance company with her husband

George Onorato
District 12: Astoria, LIC, Western Queens
First elected 1983
Queens native. Secretary/Treasurer of Bricklayer's Local #41 for 15 years.

John Sabini
District 13: Corona, Jackson Heights, North-central Queens
First elected 2002
Native of Jackson Heights. Business / Public Admin degree from NYU. Former NY City Councilman
Nominated to NY State Racing Board - Likely replacement: Hiram Monserrate

Malcom Smith
District 14: Far Rockaway, Southern Queens
First elected 2000. Senate minority leader
Queens native. MBA from Adelphi University. Real estate developer.

Toby Ann Stavisky
District 16: Flushing, North-central Queens
First elected 1999
UWS native. Graduate of Hunter and Queens Colleges. Former NYC social studies teacher

Martin Malave Dilan
District 17: Bushwick, Highland Park, Northeast Brooklyn
First elected 2002
Native of Bushwick. Graduate of Brooklyn College. Former U.S. House legislative assistant

Velmanette Montgomery
District 18: Bed-Stuy, Northern Brooklyn
First elected 1984
Master's Degree in Education from NYU

John Sampson
District 19: Brownsville, Canarsie, Southeast Brooklyn
First elected 1996
Native of Bed-Stuy. J.D. from Albany Law School. Former Legal Aid staff attorney

Eric Adams
District 20: Crown Heights, Park Slope, Central Brooklyn
First elected 2006
NYC native. Masters in Public Admin. from Marist College. 22-year NYPD veteran

Kevin Parker
District 21: Flatbush, Borough Park, Central Brooklyn
First elected 2003
Brooklyn native. MS from The New School. Former aide to a number of NYC elected officials

Diane Savino
District 23: Staten Island North Shore, Southwest Brooklyn
First elected 2004
Former NYC Child Welfare case worker

Martin Connor
District 25: Southern Manhattan, Northwest Brooklyn
First elected 1978
Trenton, NJ native. J.D. from Catholic Univ. of America School of Law
Primary challenger: Daniel Squadron

Liz Krueger
District 26: Upper East Side, Midtown, Murray Hill
First elected 2002
Masters from Univ. of Chicago. Founding Director of NYC Food Bank. Former Associate Director CFRC

Carl Kruger
District 27: Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, South Central Brooklyn
First elected 1994
Lifelong Brooklyn resident. Former Asst. Dir. of Member Services for NYS Assembly. Former chairman CB 18.

Jose Serrano
District 28: East Harlem, Roosevelt Island, Southwest Bronx
First elected 2004
B.A. Government from Manhattan College. Former NY City Councilman. Son of former U.S. Congressman

Tom Duane
District 29: Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, UWS
First elected 1998
Chelsea native. Graduate Lehigh Univ. Former Community Board member and Assemblyman

Bill Perkins
District 30: Harlem, UWS, Washington Heights
First elected 2006
Harlem native. B.A. Political Science from Brown University. Former NY City Councilman

Eric Schneiderman
District 31: Washington Heights, Inwood, Riverdale
First elected 1998
UWS native. J.D. from Harvard. Former counsel to West Side Crime Prevention Program

Ruben Diaz, Sr.
District 32: Central Bronx
First elected 2002
Native of Puerto Rico. Army veteran. Ordained minister in the Church of God

Efrain Gonzalez, Jr.
District 33: Tremont, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Western Bronx
First elected 1989
Native of Puerto Rico. Former representative for TWU and Teamsters Local 820

Jeffrey Klein
District 34: Mount Vernon, North-central Bronx, Central Weschester
First elected 2004
Bronx native. J.D. NY Law School. Former Assemblyman. Former cheif of staff to Congressman James Scheuer

Andrea Stewart-Cousins
District 35: Yonkers, Tarrytown Greenburgh
First elected 2006
Masters of Public Administration from Pace University. Former journalist, teacher, and Democratic operative

Ruth Hassell-Thompson
District 36: Mount Vernon
First elected 2000
Bronx Community College. Former nurse. Former President/CEO of real estate development company

Suzi Oppenheimer
District 37: Mamaroneck
First elected 1984
Columbia University School of Business. Former Mayor of Mamaroneck

Neil Breslin
District 46: Albany
First elected 1996
Albany native. J.D. from University of Toledo

Darrel Aubertine
District 48: Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties (North-central NY state)
First elected 2008
Native of Cape Vincent. Retired 6th-generation dairy farmer. Former assemblyman

David Valesky
District 49: Oneida (Central NY state)
First elected 2004
Oneida Native. M.S. Poly Sci from Univ. of Connecticut. Former Assembly aide and talk show host

William Stachowski
District 58: Buffalo (Northwest NY State)
First elected 1981
Buffalo native. B.A. Poly Sci College of Holy Cross. Former teacher

Antoine Thompson
District 60: Niagra Falls, Buffalo (Western NY State)
First elected 2007
Buffalo native. B.S. History SUNY/Brockport