Democrats have taken hold of the state Senate majority this election, and a couple of the seats that flipped were right in the Hudson Valley.

Rosendale Town Councilwoman Jen Metzger will fill the seat of longtime Republican Senator John Bonacic, who did not seek re-election. 

"I'm not one who has been in the halls of the legislature for many years; I'm coming from the community level. I've worked in local government for many years, I'm a town councilwoman," said Metzger.     

With long-time Republican Bill Larkin also retiring from the Senate, Democrat Assemblyman James Skoufis won the election to fill his spot. With the two Democrat senators-to-be, new Democratic Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson said he is optimistic about the changes they can make. 

"We agree on nearly all the issues and we're going to be able to get things done. And I think that's so important because we have problems to address," said Jacobson. 

Jacobson is a Newburgh City Council member, but will resign to take the 104th Assembly seat. The person to fill Skoufis's current seat is Republican Colin Schmitt. 

Schmitt resigned from his Town of New Windsor Chief of Staff position the day after Election Day to take on this role, and does not see this "blue wave" as an issue.

"I think it's only amplifying my voice and the importance of what this election stood for. We see a complete takeover of government and one-party control. And there are many new proposals that they've put out — [such as] an agenda that is quite scary for residents of this district," said Schmitt.   

Schmitt does believe that some Democratic plans would put financial burdens on taxpayers, or simply would not make sense for the district. 

"On things that are a good idea, things that are bipartisan, I'm going to be happy to work together with members of both parties, of both chambers to get it done," said Schmitt.