Republican state Sen. Bob Antonacci was among the leading candidates for one of three state Supreme Court judgeships on Tuesday, a result that if successful would create an opening in his central New York district at the start of the new year.

Antonacci on Tuesday evening narrowly held an advantage over a fellow Republican for the seat.

Antonacci was elected only a year ago to a seat vacated by Republican Sen. John DeFrancisco, the former deputy majority leader who retired. 

If he comes out victorious, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday he would call a special election to fill the district.

“He has to win, then he has to resign and then clock starts running and then we look at it then,” Cuomo said.

A race to replace Antonacci — one that will likely be closely watched — could provide a flavor for what issues will shape legislative campaigns in the new year.

For Democrats, an optimal outcome would be this: Cuomo schedules a special election for April 28, the same day as the state’s presidential primary, when he is also eyeing a special election to fill the vacant western New York House district led by ex-Rep. Chris Collins.

Unlike Collins’s former seat, the party enrollment divide in the 50th state Senate district is a narrow one. Antonacci defeated Democrat John Mannion by less than 3,000 votes in 2018.

And, given the Republican primary is expected to be a cake walk for President Donald Trump, more Democratic voters would head to the polls in an April primary, boosting the Democratic candidate in the process.

Now in the majority, Senate Democrats are flush with a cash advantage as well.

Still, whomever wins a hypothetical special election in April would be a state senator in practice for a precious amount of time. The legislative session in Albany is scheduled to end early this year to adjust to the new June primary. The session is due to end June 2.