She resigned her seat effective March 10, 2019 to take another position. On July 1, 2019, Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced that Simcha Felder was joining the Senate Democratic Conference as its 40th member. On November 5, 2019, Republican Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello defeated Democrat Austin Morgan in a special election to fill the Senate seat in District 57 that was left vacant following the resignation of Catharine Young. He took office on November 26, 2019. Bob Antonacci resigned his seat to become a trial court judge, and eight other members of the Senate Republican Conference (Sens. George Amedore, John Flanagan, Rich Funke, Kenneth LaValle, Betty Little, Michael Ranzenhofer, Joseph Robach, and James Seward) had announced their intent to not seek re-election in 2020, and that Sens. Chris Jacobs and Rob Ortt both intended to run for the same seat in the United States House of Representatives. However, on February 11, 2020, Ortt dropped out of the race. The Lieutenant Governor of New York is the "ex officio" President of the Senate. Like the Vice President of the United States, the Lieutenant Governor has a casting vote in the event of a tie, but otherwise may not vote. With few exceptions, the Senate is presided over by the "Temporary President", a post which is normally also held by the Majority Leader. The Senate has one additional officer outside those who are elected by the people. The Secretary of the Senate is a post that is chosen by a majority vote of the senators, and does not have voting power (he/she is allowed, though officially discouraged, from discussing and negotiating legislative matters). The Secretary of the Senate is responsible for administering the Senate's office space, overseeing the handling of bills and the oversight of the sergeants-at-arms and the stenographer. Alejandra Paulino was appointed to the position in December 2018. * First elected in a special election. As of February 2020, the State Senate committee chairs (all Democrats) were as follows: