Get up to speed on this year's elections with Newsday's Voters Guide

Long Island voters will head to the polls Nov. 3 to help decide New York’s next governor in a consequential statewide election while also casting ballots for a full slate of federal, state and local races.

It’s the first election since New York passed an even-year election law that merges many local races onto the same ballot as congressional and statewide races.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, 68, a Democrat, is seeking to win her second full term after she replaced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2021. She faces Republican Bruce Blakeman, 70, the Nassau County executive. The governor’s term is four years.

All four of Long Island’s congressional seats are on the ballot, and the incumbents in each district are seeking reelection. Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House and are seeking to retain control amid threats of a “blue wave” nationally driven by high energy costs and grocery prices.

Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 24, and lasts through Sunday, Nov. 1. Newsday’s Voters Guide offers short biographies of each of the candidates on the ballot and three key issues they’re focused on in their campaign.

Voters statewide will also decide the next state comptroller and attorney general. Thomas DiNapoli, a Democrat, is seeking reelection for a fifth term as state comptroller against Republican Joseph Hernandez. And state Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, is seeking reelection to a third term against Republican Saritha Komatireddy.

In Nassau County, voters will decide 13 state Assembly races and five State Senate races. In Suffolk County, voters will decide 12 state Assembly races and five State Senate races.

Due to the even-year election change, all 19 members of the Nassau County Legislature are running for a second straight year. Candidates who won a two-year term last November were required to run again this year, while those elected last year to a four-year term will seek office again in 2028.

The even-year law excluded certain offices such as county sheriff, county clerk and district attorney.

Suffolk County legislators are not on the ballot again after voters last year approved a referendum changing the length of terms from two to four years.

As part of the even-year change, voters in some towns will be casting ballots for local races as well. In Nassau County, town supervisor races will be contested in Oyster Bay, North Hempstead and Hempstead.

In Suffolk County, town supervisor races are being contested in Riverhead and Southampton. The East Hampton and Shelter Island supervisors are running unopposed.

Suffolk voters will also decide the next county comptroller as Republican Daniel Losquadro faces Democrat Jonathan Estreich. The current comptroller, John Kennedy, is term-limited.

Voters in both counties will also elect eight judges to the State Supreme Court.

By Yancey Roy

yancey.roy@newsday.com@yanceyroy