Challenger Raynor defeats longtime Assemb. Hooper in battle for 18th district Democratic primary

Taylor R. Raynor defeated longtime state Assemb. Earlene Hooper (D-Hempstead) Thursday in the Democratic primary race in the 18th State Assembly District, according to the Nassau Board of Elections.

The election came after a contentious race between Raynor, 34, of Hempstead, and Hooper, 79, of Hempstead, who has represented the district for decades.

Raynor’s campaign had declared victory Thursday night before all precincts were counted.

“I really want to see the final results but we are very excited,” Raynor said at EB Elliot’s Restaurant & Bar in Freeport, where her campaign was celebrating. Her victory was later confirmed. 

"Everyone's starting to take a stand against elected officials who are not serving the community," she said.

Lance Clarke, a spokesman for Hooper, declined to comment.

During the race, Hooper, who has represented the district since 1988 and serves as deputy Assembly speaker, compared party chairman Jay Jacobs to a plantation owner and used racially charged statements against Raynor, a private consultant psychologist. The Nassau County Democratic Committee endorsed Raynor.

Raynor is also running on the Reform, Women's Equality and Working Families party lines. She said she is running to restore open communication between elected representatives and the community, and to increase awareness locally about resources available to voters.

In the 2nd Assembly District, incumbent Anthony H. Palumbo, 47, of New Suffolk had a large lead in the Republican primary over Mike Yacubich, 51, of Shoreham, according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

Palumbo said that he was not declaring victory yet. "We feel good about the numbers to this point to be sure," he said.

Yacubich did not respond to requests for comment.

Palumbo, who won a one-year term to fill a vacancy in 2013, is making his fourth bid for Assembly. He is on the Conservative and Independence lines in the general election.

Palumbo has a private law practice in Mattituck, and before that served six years as an assistant Suffolk County district attorney. He said he is running on his record, and that he has prioritized taxes and jobs during his time in office.

17th Assembly District:

—         Assemb. John Mikulin (R-Bethpage) was leading James Coll for the Republican nomination.

—         Mikulin was also leading write-in candidates for the Reform party line.

20th Assembly District:

—         Juan C. Vides declared victory over John J. Vobis Jr. for the Democratic nomination.

—         Vobis was leading write-in candidates for the Reform party line.

East Hampton Town Council:

—         David B. Lys was leading David Gruber for the Democratic nomination.

—         Write-in candidates were leading Roy Greenberg for the Working Families party line.

Huntington Town Council:

—         Joan A. Cergol was leading write-in candidates for the Working Families party line.

—         James F. Leonick was leading write-in candidates for the Reform party line.

9th State Senate District:

—         Sen. Todd D. Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) was leading write-in candidates for the Reform party line.

21st Assembly District:

—         Judy A. Griffin was leading write-in candidates for the Reform party line.

7th Assembly District:

—         Thomas E. Murray III faced a potential write-in challenge for the Women’s Equality party line.

Huntington Town receiver of taxes:

—         Janet L. Smitelli was leading write-in candidates for the Reform party line.