What does a state senator do?

What this office controls

• Votes on state law covering education, criminal law, taxes, health, transportation, and business regulation.
• Approves the state budget.
• In many states, confirms the governor's appointments.
• Draws legislative and congressional district maps in most states.
• Can propose constitutional amendments for referral to voters.

What it can’t do

Just as important, and the source of most misplaced expectations about the job:

• Cannot enact law alone — the other chamber and usually the governor must agree.
• Has no authority over federal matters.
• Municipal ordinances are set by city councils, not the legislature, though states can preempt them.

Why this race matters

State legislatures decide most of the questions people assume Congress handles: what is taught in schools, how criminal sentences work, whether a state expands Medicaid, how property is taxed. These races are frequently decided by a few hundred votes and are often uncontested — which means the primary, not the general election, was the real decision.

What to look for in a candidate

• Bills sponsored and votes cast in prior terms.
• Committee assignments.
• Local ties to the district.
• Position on the specific state-level fights currently underway.
• Whether they have held a town hall or answered a questionnaire.