LIers vie for a voice in New York State Assembly 

Of the state Assembly’s 150 members, 107 — more than two-thirds — belong to the long-dominant Democratic majority. But out of Long Island’s 22 Assembly members, 12 — more than half — belong to the chamber’s clout-challenged Republican minority.

That power scenario is unlikely to change in any significant way on Nov. 8. For Nassau and Suffolk county voters, this election provides a chance to look past party alignment and choose incumbents, challengers, or those vying for open seats based on whom the candidates are and how they define their positions on pressing local issues.

Because the rest of this ballot combines a governor’s race with a polarizing congressional midterm, the major parties put out in-sync messages on crime, taxes, abortion, and energy production, among other issues. Yet there is always variation in the views and priorities of candidates, even in the same party, often depending on which district they seek to represent.

Parties run tickets, but coattails aren’t guaranteed — and every election is different. Some who vote for the top elected positions but don’t proceed down the ballot to the other races sacrifice a chance for some local impact.

On Long Island, that can mean nuanced distinctions on subjects where Assembly members can wield and echo community influence — school finances, approaches to housing development, criminal justice policies, economic development, income and business taxes, ways to fund mass transit, the possible conversion of LIPA to a public utility, responses to the ongoing drug scourge, vaccine mandates, and voting regulations. Not to mention issues unique to each district.

In a year when redistricting due to the census spawned vigorous court fights, the Assembly lines were the least controversial. The map used for this election was enacted by the State Legislature and drawn in the old, long-practiced way — at the behest of Democratic Speaker Carl Heastie. The map was not gerrymandered to challenge any GOP members or seats, and had not been challenged in court until after State Senate and U.S. House maps were settled.

But now a judge has ordered the state’s bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission to reconvene, agree on an Assembly map for the 2024 election, and submit it to the legislature. Last time, the panel failed to reach a negotiated agreement and split along party lines.

For now we focus on the current choices, offering our recommendations of those candidates best able to stand up for Long Island, and encouraging voters to take time to consider them. Click here to see Newsday's 2022 New York State Assembly endorsements.