Every single member of the New York State Legislature is up for election this Nov. 3, Election Day. These men and women make decisions that have consequences for residents, from school district financial support to how much they pay in state taxes to constituent services.
Here’s a look at the state Senate and Assembly races in the Anton Media Group coverage area. Party affiliations/endorsements are Democratic (D), Republican (R), Conservative (C), Working Families (WF), Green (G), Libertarian (L) Serve America Movement (SAM) and Independence (I). Note that the Independence Party is not to be confused with independent voters who have not chosen a party affiliation. These are classified as “Blank” in the enrollment rolls kept by the New York State Board of Elections.
Senate
Jim Gaughran (D–Northport) ousted longtime Republican Carl Marcellino in 2018 after losing the same race in 2016. He will face Edmund Smyth (R/L/C/I) and Barbara Wagner (G) while also running on the SAM line.
The district covers the City of Glen Cove and the northern parts of the Town of Oyster Bay, extending into the Town of Huntington in Suffolk County.
In 2018, Kevin Thomas (D/WF–Levittown) edged Kemp Hannon (R–Garden City), who had been in the Senate since 1989. In the 2020 election, Thomas faces Dennis Dunne Sr. (R/C/I) and Jonathan Gunther (L). Dunne is currently serving as a councilman with the Town of Hempstead. Previously, he was a county legislator for 22 years.
The district covers mainly central Nassau County and a good portion of the Town of Hempstead, including Levittown, and stretches from Franklin Square in the west to Bethpage in the east.
Anna Kaplan (D/WF/I) of Great Neck handily defeated first-term incumbent Elaine Phillips (R–Flower Hill) in 2018 and in this cycle will square off against David Franklin (R/C).
The district covers portions of the Town of North Hempstead, including Great Neck, Manhasset, Mineola and Westbury.
Longtime Republican John E. Brooks (D/WF/I) of Seaford switched parties to defeat Michael Venditto 50.11 to 49.89 percent in 2016. Two years later he beat back a challenge from then-Massapequa Park Mayor and now Town of Oyster Bay Receiver of Taxes Jefferey Pravato. Brooks is running unopposed in 2020.
The district straddles Nassau and Suffolk, and encompasses the southern part of the Town of Oyster Bay and portions of Massapequa and Farmingdale.
Assembly
One-term incumbent Mike LiPetri chose not to run again. He lost in the Republican primary to Andrew Garbarino to replace longtime Congressman Peter King in the 2nd District. The candidates in this race are Ann Brancato (D/WF) and Michael Durso (R/L/C/I). District covers mainly Suffolk, but spills over into the south portion of the Town of Oyster Bay.
Charles Lavine (D/WF) of Glen Cove, first elected in 2004, has won his last four elections by gathering more than 60 percent of the votes. For a second straight election, he will be challenged by Andrew Monteleone (R/C/I). Lavine won by nearly 37 points in 2018. District covers the northeast section of the Town of Oyster Bay and portions of Westbury, Jericho and Plainview.
David McDonough (R/C/I) of Merrick was first elected in 2012 and won his last election with 56 percent of the vote. This November, he will be challenged by Kevin Gorman (D) and Jake Gutowitz (L). The district lies in the eastern portion of the Town of Hempstead, from Levittown and East Meadow south to the shore communities.
Michael Montesano (R/C/L/I) of Glen Head first took his seat in a special election in 2010 and has won four subsequent ones. He will be challenged by Joseph Sackman III (D/WF). The district ranges from Bayville and Locust Valley south to Hicksville and parts of Westbury.
Democrat Anthony D’Urso of Port Washington, 80, served two terms and won his 2018 election with 63 percent of the votes. In the wake of his retirement, Gina Sellitti (D/WF) will contest for his seat against Ragini Srivastava (R/C/I) and Blay Tarnoff (L). The district covers much of the Town of North Hempstead, south to Mineola and east to Old Westbury.
John Mikulin (R/C/I) of Bethpage won a special election in 2017 to replace Thomas McKevitt (R), who resigned to run for the Nassau County Legislature. He subsequently defeated Kimberly Snow (D) 54.9 to 44.1 in 2018 and this year will be opposed by Mark Engelman (D). The district stretches from Uniondale to South Farmingdale and from Levittown to Massapequa.
Incumbent Ed Ra (R/C/I/L) of Franklin Square will face a familiar opponent: Democrat Gary Port. Ra, first elected in 2010, defeated Port by 20 points or more in 2012, 2014 and 2016. The district ranges across the towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, ranging from the Village of Hempstead on the south to the edge of Glen Cove on the north.
