The
1934 New York state election was held on November 6. Governor
Herbert H. Lehman and Lieutenant Governor
M. William Bray were re-elected, both Democrats. Of the other eight statewide elective offices, six were carried by Democrats, one by the Republican chief judge with Democratic endorsement, and one by a Republican judge who ran on the Democratic ticket only. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 2,202,000; Republicans 1,394,000; Socialists 127,000; Communists 46,000; Law Preservation 20,500; and Socialist Labor 7,000. For the first time there were three women in the Legislature: Ex-Assemblywoman
Rhoda Fox Graves (Rep.), of
Gouverneur, a former school teacher who after her marriage became active in women's organisations and politics, was the first woman elected to the State Senate; Assemblywoman
Doris I. Byrne (Dem.), a lawyer from
the Bronx, was re-elected; and
Jane H. Todd (Rep.), of
Tarrytown, was also elected to the Assembly. For the first time since
1913, Democratic majorities were elected to both Houses of the Legislature. It remained the only time until 1965. ==Sessions==