Democrats tap ex-Nassau precinct officer to challenge North Hempstead's Jennifer DeSena
Democrats have selected Sean McCarthy, a former commander of Nassau County's third and sixth precincts, to challenge Jennifer DeSena for North Hempstead town supervisor. DeSena, a Democrat who runs on the GOP line, is running for reelection. Credit: James Escher
Sean McCarthy, a former commanding officer of two Nassau County police precincts, is the Democrats' pick to run for North Hempstead town supervisor, setting a matchup with incumbent Jennifer DeSena.
McCarthy, 62, currently serves as an elected commissioner with the Port Washington Police District.
DeSena, a registered Democrat who caucuses with Republicans, will run for her fourth term in November, a spokesman for the Nassau County Republican Committee confirmed. DeSena was first elected in 2021 and has served two two-year terms. She began her third term in January after defeating Democrat Dave Kerpen in November 2025. While terms are usually for two years, she has to run for reelection this year because of the state's new even-year election law.
On Tuesday, McCarthy, a former commanding officer of Nassau's Third and Sixth precincts, addressed a crowd of about 50 supporters at Finn MacCool's Irish Restaurant in Port Washington.
He said in an interview he was running on a platform focused on updating the town's master plan, reforming its building department and expanding Project Independence, a program that provides services for seniors.
McCarthy said his tenure as chief of support services in the Nassau County Police Department would serve him well as town supervisor.
"I had some extensive experience in logistics, in dealing with large groups of people and getting large events underway," McCarthy, of Port Washington, said. "The town is very similar, and fortunately you're not responding to a crisis. These are things you can plan and that you can grow organically."
DeSena said in a statement that she is running on a platform of tax relief, public safety and improving "parks, programs and services." She said she is committed to fighting antisemitism and "all acts of hate."
She referenced Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican running for governor against Gov. Kathy Hochul.
"The DeSena team will collaborate with County Executive Bruce Blakeman to preserve our area as the safest community in the nation," DeSena's statement said.
DeSena ran as a political outsider in 2021 when she defeated the Democrats' nominee, Wayne Wink, who was the town clerk at the time. She defeated Democrat Jon Kaiman, the town's supervisor from 2004-13, in 2023, before besting Kerpen in November. With the 2023 elections, Republicans gained a majority on the town board for the first time in more than three decades.
Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
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