Obadiah German had been elected in 1809 to this seat, and his term would expire on March 3, 1815.

At the State election in April 1814, a Democratic-Republican majority was elected to the Assembly, and eight of the nine State Senators up for election were Democratic-Republicans. The 38th New York State Legislature met from September 26 to October 24, 1814; and from January 31 to April 18, 1815, at Albany, New York. The party strength in the Assembly as shown by the vote for Speaker was: 61 for Samuel Young and 35 for James Emott.

State Senator Nathan Sanford was the candidate of the Democratic-Republican Party.

Assemblyman James Emott, the Speaker of the previous Assembly session, was the candidate of the Federalist Party.

State Senator Philetus Swift received a "complimentary vote" from Sanford, traditionally the candidates did not vote for themselves.

Nathan Sanford was the choice of both the Assembly and the Senate, and was declared elected.

• The New York Civil List compiled in 1858 (see: pg. 63 for U.S. Senators; pg. 122 for State Senators 1814-15; pg. 189f for Members of Assembly 1814-15)
• Members of the 14th United States Congress
• History of Political Parties in the State of New-York by Jabez Delano Hammond (pages 393f)
• Election result (U.S. Senator) at Tufts University Library project "A New Nation Votes"
• Election result (Speaker) at Tufts University Library project "A New Nation Votes"

• United States Senate elections, 1814 and 1815