LI's oldest state legislator won't run again after 24 years in office
Assemb. David McDonough (R-Merrick) represents a South Shore GOP stronghold district where Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 11,000. Credit: James Escher
David McDonough, Long Island’s oldest state legislator, won’t run for reelection and will be replaced on the ballot by someone who could become the youngest member of the delegation, Republican officials announced Friday.
McDonough, 88, has represented parts of Nassau County for more than 24 years in the State Assembly but isn’t running for a new term, officials said. One other Republican incumbent also won’t run for reelection, party officials said: Assemb. Daniel Norber (R-Great Neck).
The McDonough development comes one week after Newsday reported the Merrick Republican hasn’t reported showing up in person at the State Capitol in more than two years, has cast most of his votes over the last few years via videoconferencing and has missed more than 100 votes already in 2026.
Assembly Republicans issued a statement at the time in which McDonough cited personal and health challenges. On Friday, Nassau Republicans said he was looking forward to spending more time with his adult children and grandchildren.
McDonough has represented the 14th Assembly District since winning a special election in February 2002 to fill a vacancy. The district, long a GOP stronghold where Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 11,000, is South Shore-based, covering parts of Bellmore, Wantagh and Jones Beach.
On Friday, the Nassau Republican Committee announced it is backing Shannon Fredericks, a 29-year-old state Senate staffer to run for the seat. She most recently has served as regional coordinator for Senate Republicans in Nassau County.
Democrats haven’t finalized on who they’ll run in the district, State Chairman Jay Jacobs said Friday.
Democrats outnumber Republicans by better than 2-1 in the Assembly.
Norber, 46, isn’t running for reelection after serving only one term in the 16th District, which covers northwestern Nassau and a sliver of Queens. In 2024, he became the first Republican to win the seat in about five decades when he narrowly defeated incumbent Democrat Gina Sillitti.
Republicans didn’t specify why Norber wasn’t running again.
Republicans haven’t named someone yet to run the for the seat but expect to in the coming week.
Democrats are backing Kim Keiserman, a Port Washington community activist and former teacher who ran for State Senate in 2024.
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