There are races for all Suffolk County Legislature seats. Here are the hotly contested ones.

With five weeks remaining until early voting begins this election season, the focus for both the Republican and Democratic parties in the Suffolk County Legislature races is on a handful of seats that could flip.

All 18 seats in the Republican-controlled legislature are up for election. For the GOP, November’s election is about expanding its power. For the Democrats, it’s an opportunity to break up the GOP supermajority, according to interviews with party leaders and candidates. 

Suffolk Republicans gained the majority in the legislature in 2021, shifting the balance of power for the first time in 16 years as a "red wave" swept across the Island. The GOP picked up another seat in 2023 to gain the veto-proof supermajority.

"Residents are responding to the Republicans' platform of a safer, more secure and affordable Suffolk County," said GOP chairman Jesse Garcia. 

Keith Davies, campaign manager for the Suffolk Democrats, said the party's focus is on local issues such as affordable housing and he's confident voters won't be swayed by national politics.

"We’ve got candidates that are running on their records and the things that are important to the local communities," he said.

It will likely still be challenging for Democrats to make a serious dent in the GOP dominance this year, based on interviews with party leaders, candidates and results of the most recent legislative races in 2023. The Democrats have no candidate in one race, and three others are not actively campaigning, Davies said.

NYC link 

The possibility of New York City politics leaking to Suffolk County could play a factor in legislative races.

Steve Levy, a former county executive and legislator, said the Republican theme will be to keep New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani’s "defund the police out of Suffolk."

Mamdani is a part of the Democratic Socialists of America but has not endorsed its entire platform as a mayoral candidate, Newsday has reported.

"Will the Democrats have a unifying theme? That’s the question," said Levy who served as a Democrat before switching parties to Republican in 2010 to run for governor. "I haven’t seen it at this point."

Garcia said the party won’t shy away from linking Suffolk Democrats to Mamdani, and noted Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, endorsed him. Jay Jacobs, the leader of both the Nassau County and state Democratic parties, said this week he will not endorse Mamdani.

"We build a firewall that helps compete and push back against these socialistic, anti-suburban, pro-urban, pro-crime, anti-cop agenda that comes out from the Democrats here locally, at Albany and Washington," Garcia said.

Davies downplayed the New York City race and Mamdani, calling them a "distraction" from the issues facing Suffolk.

"No one cares about this distraction of what’s happening in New York City," he said. "We’re talking about the affordability issue in Suffolk County."

Levy said while incumbents tend to win in legislative races, the relatively small districts allow an opening for a challenger to break through. And while money is important, personal contact and grassroots door-to-door campaigning can be bigger factors, he said.

"You can overcome a lack of resources and even the general mood of a particular year and create a surprise," said Levy. "Whether that will happen or not this year depends on how hard those local candidates are working."

In 2023, 13 of the 18 legislature races were won by more than 10 percentage points.

'Politics are local'

At least two new lawmakers will join the legislature because Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) and Legis. Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) are both term-limited.

RJ Renna, the deputy mayor for the Village of Lindenhurst, won a primary in June for the Republican nod in McCaffrey’s 14th District. Retired NYPD Det. Sal Formica also won a primary to become the GOP candidate in Trotta’s 13th District. Both districts are Republican strongholds. Democrats have no candidate running against Renna.

McCaffrey’s departure also creates an opening for presiding officer, the position that leads the body.

Democrats are optimistic about their chances to flip one seat on the East End held by Legis. Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead), while Republicans believe they can win districts currently held by Legis. Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station) and Legis. Steven Englebright (D-Setauket).

In the 1st District, which covers the North Fork and a small portion of eastern Brookhaven Town, Southold Town Councilman Greg Doroski, a Democrat, is challenging Stark, who was first elected in 2023.

"I always do what I believe is right," said Doroski, who manages a brewery and was elected to to the town board in 2021. "You know, sometimes that aligns with the party, sometimes it doesn't align with the party ... I think my opponent has a record of falling lockstep with her party."

Stark said she’s confident in her reelection campaign, citing her nearly three decades of experience in Suffolk County government, including 10 years as chief of staff to former Legis. Al Krupski, a Democrat, in the 1st District. Krupski, now supervisor of Southold Town, endorsed Doroski in this election, saying he "is the best person to continue the work I was doing in the legislature for the people of our district." Stark said "it's politics" and Krupski endorsing her opponent doesn't change their personal relationship.

Stark cited recently approved legislation she co-sponsored to create a Working Waterfront Program modeled after the county’s farmland preservation as a success that benefits her district.

"Preserving our waterfront is another layer of protecting that quality of life that we have out here," she said.

Key races

In the 16th District, which covers part of Huntington Town and a portion of Islip Town, Sanin faces a challenge from former town supervisor and Assemb. Chad Lupinacci.

Sanin said affordability, public safety and environmental preservation are all topics important to voters.

"The message is really easy to deliver, quite frankly, because folks know that I'm there for them and know that I care deeply about our district, and that I'm going to do the work to address the challenges that they face," she said.

Lupinacci’s campaign has focused on fiscal responsibility, public safety and affordability. 

Garcia said Lupinacci was "drafted into" a return to public service after he opted not to seek reelection as supervisor in 2021.

"It was the people in that community and others that said, ‘Chad, you have to come back. We need your skill set back here.' "

Davies called Lupinacci a "flawed candidate."

In the 5th District, which includes areas of Port Jefferson and Stony Brook, Garcia said he believes Laura Endres, an attorney who's challenging Englebright, is also a strong candidate who "has experience in public service and is truly grounded in the community." Englebright served in the state Assembly since 1992 before losing in 2022. He was elected to the legislature in 2023.

Early voting begins Oct. 25 and runs through Nov. 2. Election Day is Nov. 4.

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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