Blakeman, Donnelly Re-Elected in Nassau
Republican Majorities Shrink in Huntington and County Legislatures
By Hank Russell
This Election Day saw most of the incumbents re-elected, with a few surprises. Both the Suffolk County and Nassau County Legislatures maintained Republican majorities. In addition, the GOP hit the trifecta in Nassau, re-electing a Republican county executive, district attorney and comptroller.
These results are from the Suffolk and Nassau County Boards of Elections as of press time. Although all precincts have reported, the results are still unofficial.
Suffolk Maintains Majority, Despite Loss of One Seat
All but one incumbent in the Suffolk County Legislature retained their seats, still giving the Republicans an edge. However, the Democrats gained a seat, shrinking the GOP’s advantage to 11-7.
In the First Legislative District, GOP incumbent Catherine L Stark lost to Democratic challenger Greg Doroski, 11,219 votes to 10,311. Stark was first elected in 2023.
In the 13th Legislative District, the seat remained red as Salvatore Formica defeated Democrat Shala Pascucci, 9,285-6,398. The seat is being vacated by Rob Trotta, who is being term-limited out.
Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), who is also vacating his seat because of term limits, was succeeded by GOP candidate RJ Renna, who ran unopposed.
Former Huntington Town Supervisor and New York State Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci made a run for legislator in the 16th Legislative District, but fell short.Lupinacci garnered 5,397 votes, compared to Democratic incumbent Rebecca Sanin, who received 7,600 votes.
The 18th Legislative District proved to be neck-and-neck, but GOP incumbent Stephanie Bontempi pulled out a victory over Democrat opponent Craig Herskowitz by less than 400 votes. Bontempi got 11,442 votes, compared to Herskowitz’ 11,063 votes.
Huntington Town Board No Longer 5-0 for GOP
Although Ed Smyth, a Republican, was narrowly re-elected as town supervisor with 21,368 votes — besting Democrat opponent Cooper Marco (20,766 votes) and Working Families candidate Maria Delgado (1,195 votes) — the GOP-dominated town council lost one seat. Democratic challenger Jen Hebert won the seat with 22,396 votes; the seat was vacated by Sal Ferro, who announced earlier this year he would not seek another term. Republican Dr. David Bennardo kept his seat for another term, receiving 21,169 votes.
GOP Fails to Gain Ground in Southold
Two GOP candidates for Southold Town Council, Nicolas Planamento and Christopher Talbot, failed in their election bids. Democrat incumbent Brian O’Mealy retained his seat, garnering 4,747 votes, and Alexa N. Suess, another Democrat, won a seat vacated by Doroski with 4,381 votes. Planamento and Talbot got 4,211 and 4,300 votes, respectively.
For Town Trustees, Democrats Eric Sepenoski and Elizabeth A. Gilloly were re-elected with 4,894 and 4,726 votes, respectively. Joseph A. Finora, another Democrat, got 4,586 votes. They beat out GOP opponents Nathan H. Andruski (4,153 votes), Pindar Damianos (3,990 votes) and Terri Boyle Romanelli (3,982 votes).
Blakeman, Donnelly, Phillips Win
Republicans Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, District Attorney Anne Donnelly and Comptroller Elaine Phillips fended off strong challenges from their Democratic opponents — Seth Koslow and Nicole Aloise, respectively — to be re-elected.
Blakeman received 171,113 votes, beating his Democrat challenger, Legislator Seth Koslow, who had 134,643 votes. Donnelly, with 168,978 votes, beat former Assistant DA Aloise, who had 134,880 votes. Phillips beat her Democratic challenger, former North Hempstead Town Councilmember and Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink, 167,868-133,639.
Nassau GOP Loses One Seat
In the race for the Nassau County Legislature, the GOP’s majority was cut from 12-7 to 11-8. In the 14th Legislative District, Cynthia Nunez, a Democrat, beat out Republican Sheharyar Ali, with Nunez getting 8,313 votes to 6,497. Nunez will replace outgoing GOP legislator C. William Gaylor, who will not seek re-election.
In the 15th Legislative District, where John Ferretti Jr. was legislator before being appointed Hempstead Town Supervisor, Republicans held onto that seat, with Kayla L. Knight beating Democrat Stephen Richard Hellman by a 13,224-6,048 vote.
Ferretti, meanwhile, won his election for Hempstead Town Supervisor against Joe Scianablo. Ferretti got 88,534 votes, while Scianablo received 77,639 votes.
Voters Approve Both Proposals
In Nassau County, voters approved a proposal to build an Olympic complex by 144,368-126,970 margin. Suffolk County residents voted 114,477-110,692 in favor of the complex.
In addition, Suffolk approved a proposition to extend term limits for legislators from two to four years, with 128,766 in favor and 95,383 opposed.