Find out the candidates the editorial board chose and why as endorsements are published throughout October.

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The Editorial Board

For more than a half century, Democrats have held the majority in the New York State Assembly. The current partisan split stands at 103 Democrats and 47 Republicans. That’s three votes more than the two-thirds majority needed to override a governor’s veto or pass certain special measures. 
It is telling about the state’s partisan power dynamics that the Assembly’s Democratic speaker, Carl E. Heastie, comes from a New York City district and that the chamber’s minority leader, Edward P. Ra, comes from Long Island. 
Of the 65 Assembly seats in the five boroughs, 59 now belong to Democrats led by Heastie. But of Long Island’s 22 members, 13 belong to Ra’s GOP conference. 
Given that scenario, the Newsday editorial board asked Long Island Assembly candidates from both parties if Nassau and Suffolk counties together would gain from having more Republicans in the delegation or more Democrats. The answers, of course, were in the eyes of the beholders. 
Republicans argued that their minority bloc serves a meaningful purpose to balance the Democratic dominance of all statewide elected offices and both legislative chambers. Ra said that just breaking the two-thirds supermajority of the Assembly Democrats this year would go a long way toward giving the GOP more clout and all the more so if Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is elected governor. 
Democrats in the delegation, such as veteran Assemb. Charles D. Lavine, suggest that they already serve Long Island as an offset to what’s seen as New York City leaders’ increasingly left-wing impulses on taxes, budgets and legislation. Not incidentally, on local projects and priorities, being in the majority allows Democrats to promise a bigger share of the state budget for their districts. 
Determining which candidate will do a better job for their district requires familiarity with its particular needs and demands. Newsday Opinion’s endorsements are based on the competing candidates’ answers to specific questions, the quality of their experience, and the ideas and values they bring to the table. In addition, we considered their propensity to reach across the aisle when necessary to play a constructive role for all their constituents. 
Not all consensus or conflict runs along prescribed party lines. For example, pension benefit improvements enacted by the State Legislature for government employees in Tier 5 and Tier 6 were broadly supported by both parties’ candidates, but so are caps on local taxes even as the pension changes raise costs on municipal governments. We heard some interesting takes from candidates on how to better or more fairly finance public schools. 
Voters’ choices are best based on the specifics of governance. The editorial board hopes the information and endorsements we’re presenting will help your own decision process.

Editorials

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New York State Assembly election endorsements overview

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The 1st Assembly District rematch between Democratic incumbent Tommy John Schiavoni and Republican Stephen F. Kiely features two of the most ideologically different candidates on the Island. 
Their biggest difference is on immigration. Kiely wants local municipalities to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement patrols while Schiavoni said ICE action on the East End will “rock our communities in ways that we really don’t even know.” 
Kiely wants to eliminate unfunded state mandates in special education that drive up school costs while Schiavoni backs increasing the cap on budget reserves for special education costs to reduce the burden on smaller school districts especially impacted by having to include those costs in their tax cap formula. 
Schiavoni, 63, of Sag Harbor, a former teacher, school board member and Southampton Town councilmember, said charter schools need more oversight and local industrial development agencies must rein in tax breaks for corporations that deprive schools of revenue. He also wants “some” exemptions from the state’s property tax cap for municipalities. 
Schiavoni said he supports the state data center moratorium because municipalities are at a disadvantage against the influence of billion-dollar companies. And he wants expanded Long Island Rail Road service to reduce traffic congestion and increase the number of customers for local businesses. “The East End of the South Fork of Long Island is one of the main economic engines of Suffolk County,” he said. 
Kiely, 51, of Mattituck, offers a wealth of governmental experience, having served as an attorney for several municipalities and as a prosecutor for two East End villages. He wants to revise recent changes in state bail laws and protect the character of the East End from any proposals to reduce the minimum size of residential lots to a quarter-acre. Kiely favors the concept of a “manor house,” which he describes as having three units inside but “looks like one single house from the street,” as well as accessory apartments and rentals above stores. 
To support a critical local industry, Schiavoni wants to exempt fishing boats from the sales tax on fuel. His bill to require the state to collect data on tick-borne illness and the insurance coverage of such claims was vetoed in 2025 by the governor. This year, he is trying to make alpha-gal syndrome a mandated reportable disease and he supports recognition of the Montaukett Indian Nation. 
Protecting the environment is a critical component of the portfolio of the East End representative and Schiavoni best follows in the tradition of Fred Thiele, who represented the district for more than three decades. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Schiavoni.

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Tommy John Schiavoni for Assembly District 1

Newsday Opinion endorses Schiavoni for Assembly District 1

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Now serving her third term, Republican incumbent Jodi A. Giglio, 58, of Baiting Hollow, puts several affordability-friendly proposals out front in her reelection campaign. She has talked about expanding tax credits to decrease out-of-pocket childcare costs, for example. 
It’s a discussion that will have to take place on both sides of the aisle but ranks among the top proposals backed by the GOP minority, which has limited opportunities to claim credit for what they may consider the positive parts of a state budget. 
In a meeting with the editorial board, Giglio said she is drafting a bill for a first-time homebuyers program modeled on the popular 529 investment plan that allows families to save for future education costs. “They could take money out of a paycheck pretax and put it into a savings account for a down payment and closing costs for a first-time home purchase,” Giglio said. 
She said a down payment assistance plan to foster first-time homebuying for working people should also be available from the Community Preservation Fund. She noted the fund has been flush from a tax on real estate transactions in the five East End towns, justifying expanding its use beyond preserving open space and farmland to help cover water and sewage projects and preserve historical structures. Another goal, motivated by concerns about water quality and the Calverton plume, is to have all district residents hooked up to public water. 
Two years ago, Giglio finished 6.9 percentage points ahead of President Donald Trump in the district. 
Democratic candidate Michael J. Szika, 27, of Manorville, is not actively campaigning. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Giglio.

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Jodi A. Giglio for Assembly District 2

Newsday Opinion endorses Giglio for Assembly District 2

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Joseph P. DeStefano, a fixture for nearly a decade as the Assembly member for the 3rd District, is seeking reelection to a fifth term. But this time, he is facing a well-known and knowledgeable challenger in Democrat Josh&nbsp;P. Slaughter, a labor leader who&nbsp;served as chief of staff for the area's former county legislator. 
DeStefano, a 66-year-old Republican from Medford, said Democrats who have controlled the Assembly for years have shut Republicans out of the governmental process to the detriment of his constituents. He said in the eight years he has been in the Capitol, Republicans have not once been able to see results of state studies into numerous government functions like healthcare costs. 
“We always ask to at least have a minority member on these studies and we never get them,” he said. 
But DeStefano says that more often than not, Republicans and Democrats in state government agree. “So, to me, it's all about being bipartisan,” he said. “That's where I shine in my district because people believe that I am bipartisan.” 
Slaughter, however, said DeStefano's lack of results shows he isn't able to work effectively with Democrats in Albany. He faulted DeStefano for voting against a state moratorium on data centers, and for not getting more roads repaved. Slaughter&nbsp; also said DeStefano failed to make progress on an underpass at the Long Island Rail Road grade crossing at&nbsp;William Floyd Parkway, something residents have been seeking for 30 years. 
“It's your job to get it on [Gov. Kathy Hochul's] radar as the state electeds and fight with the MTA to make sure these get into the capital plan,” said Slaughter, 43, of Shirley. 
DeStefano, who is on the Assembly transportation and ways and means committees, said “the MTA is not listening to the people of the community,” later adding, “But we are still working. We're not going to be silent.” 
Slaughter&nbsp;has common-sense views in line with many residents of the 3rd District, like not piercing the state tax cap and supporting school consolidation. 
It's past time for DeStefano to deliver infrastructure improvements for his constituents. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Slaughter.

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Josh Slaughter for Assembly District 3

Newsday Opinion endorses Slaughter for Assembly District 3

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Rebecca A. Kassay is completing her first term in the Assembly, but the Port Jefferson Democrat already has made her mark. 
For the last two years, Kassay, 37, didn't give up on the notion of transferring part of the former Lawrence Aviation Industries property to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, paving the way for a future rail yard, a new Long Island Rail Road station and, perhaps, the electrification of the Port Jefferson Branch. 
It wasn't easy. But Kassay kept writing and rewriting legislation, meeting with stakeholders, and using her bully pulpit until the deal finally closed last month, opening doors for future transit improvements and preserving the important Setauket-Port Jefferson Station Greenway. Now she's ready to start conversations and studies to determine "what a modernized rail yard would look like," and to plan for moving the station and work toward a one-seat ride to Manhattan. 
Kassay, who calls herself a "nerd," speaks with nuance on economic issues, including the state tax cap. She noted that taxpayers "are at their cap right now," and pointed to the need for municipalities to find other ways to reduce costs. She suggests incentivizing communities that welcome owner-occupied, multifamily housing for both younger adults and seniors, and points to the communities that are "last on the [county] list" of those slated to receive sewer funding — neighborhoods like Coram which, she says, she's committed to revitalizing. 
Her opponent, Port Jefferson Republican Will Sussman, offers a simplistic answer to the struggle between suburban needs and those of New York City, saying, "That's to vote no on the budgets" that contain extra city funds. Sussman, 27, a math teacher, advocates for the state to cap its spending just like it caps tax increases for local governments unless the community approves an override. He rightly highlights concerns about antisemitism, which was his impetus to seek office, but his answer to create a commission to combat it is unlikely make a difference. Sussman is quick to offer critiques of past legislation, but undercuts his arguments by not having a firm grasp on the details. 
With the Lawrence Aviation deal done, Kassay has the opportunity to build on what she started, while tackling other needs of the district and region. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Kassay.

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Rebecca A. Kassay for Assembly District 4

Newsday Opinion endorses Kassay for Assembly District 4

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At 36, Assemb. Douglas M. Smith, a Holbrook Republican, offers voters both energy and seasoning. He has served in the seat since 2018 when he won a special election to succeed Al Graf, who’d been elected to a Suffolk judgeship. 
Now the ranking Republican on the chamber’s Education Committee, Smith was a high school math teacher after graduating from St. Joseph’s University in Patchogue with degrees in mathematics and adolescent education. Last year, Smith also became chairman of the Town of Islip Republican Committee, succeeding William Garbarino. 
Due to that background, he pays extra attention to the complexities of state school funding and its local impact. 
Smith told the editorial board he is among a number of lawmakers of both parties who believe that charter schools should not be funded in New York State the way they are. 
“You can agree or disagree with the model of charter schools, but they are costing our taxpayers a tremendous amount of money,” Smith said. He pointed out that the Sachem school district, where he lives, has “24 students that elect to go to a charter school out of 11,000. That’s costing the district $400,000.” 
While change is unlikely, Smith notes pressure could be taken off property taxes on Long Island if the state didn’t fund so large a proportion of New York City’s single massive school district. 
He proposes increasing property taxes for residents of the five boroughs by a modest 1%. Smith also notes that the GOP minority had long been critical of the state’s timetable on the crossover to electric school buses which this year was pushed back five years. 
Smith cites other district issues he attends to, including a major pothole problem along a seven-mile stretch of Route 25, or Middle Country Road, between Smith Haven Mall and County Route 83. 
With community support, he said, repairs are finally expected during paving season next spring. 
Democrat Victoria A. Russell, 61, of Holbrook, is not actively campaigning. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Smith.

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Douglas M. Smith for Assembly District 5

Newsday endorses Smith for Assembly District 5

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Philip R. Ramos, 70,&nbsp;of Bay Shore, was first elected to the chamber in&nbsp;2002 and has risen&nbsp;to the position of deputy speaker, giving&nbsp;him a powerful perch from which to advocate for his district.&nbsp; 
Lately, he rightly used it to criticize&nbsp;the presence of U.S.&nbsp;Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents around local schools and to get passed&nbsp;legislation that prohibits public property such as fire departments from being used as staging areas for immigration enforcement. 
While meeting with the editorial board, Ramos, the dean of the Long Island delegation of Assembly members, touted a&nbsp;"historic" amount of school aid delivered to area schools, especially to&nbsp;the Brentwood district. The Democrat&nbsp;said that&nbsp;money keeps taxes down for residents who otherwise would have to pay more in school taxes to cover the cost of education. Ramos, who defines his job as making sure "his community gets a piece of the pie," noted how&nbsp;food insecurity is now reaching some middle class families. 
Ramos, who served for two decades in the Suffolk County Police Department, has been pushing a bill that would require police&nbsp;officers to report the misconduct of fellow officers&nbsp;and&nbsp;make it a crime for failing to report. He also wants the state police superintendent to establish uniform protocol for how an investigation should take place when a police officer shoots a civilian.&nbsp; 
Dennis J. Barravecchio, 74, of Central Islip, who is running on&nbsp;the Republican line,&nbsp;is not actively campaigning. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Ramos.

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Philip R. Ramos for Assembly District 6

Newsday Opinion endorses Ramos for Assembly District 6

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For the first time in six years, residents of the 7th Assembly District will have a new representative. 
Current Assemb. Jarett C. Gandolfo is running for State Senate. Seeking the seat in one of the harder-fought races this season are&nbsp;DawnMarie D. Lentz-Kuhn, a Republican Islip Town councilwoman, and&nbsp;Democrat&nbsp;Trish Kopp, a retired art teacher. 
Lentz-Kuhn, 39, of Bohemia, is a mainstay in Islip Republican politics, having worked as chief of staff for Anthony Piccirillo, the presiding officer of the Suffolk County Legislature. She also has her own political consulting and data analysis firm. She wants the state to suspend taxes on gas and home heating oil but says the decreased revenue wouldn't impact the state budget. And she supports exemptions from the state property tax cap for municipalities like Islip. 
"I do not foresee helping the folks at the pump or when they heat their home during the winter ...&nbsp;would negatively impact the budget in a big way," she said. 
Lentz-Kuhn wants to "introduce" a first-time homebuyer credit, but the state already provides several incentives for first-time homebuyers. She said she isn't "naive" to think she can fix traffic congestion at the Oakdale Merge and&nbsp;didn't offer a plan. "But I will advocate for not just another study or throwing money at the wall, but trying to find a real solution in that area," she said. 
Kopp, 60, of Oakdale, has a clearer plan for Long Island's housing crisis, saying the state should build small&nbsp;starter homes that are "union built" and use "forward-thinking energies." She said if governments can dole out tax breaks to corporations for data centers and warehouses, they can do the same for taxpayers. She is opposed to the proposed Amazon warehouse in Holbrook and wants to tax billionaires to pay for universal childcare. 
Success in Albany for a minority member means being able to work in a bipartisan way but Lentz-Kuhn's career so far is decidedly partisan and she is too entrenched in local GOP politics to be effective in the Democratic-controlled Assembly. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Kopp.

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Trish Kopp for Assembly District 7

Newsday Opinion endorses Kopp for Assembly District 7

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First elected to the Assembly in 2002, Republican Michael J. Fitzpatrick is one of the chamber's most iconoclastic members, a reliable challenger to the conventional wisdom of Albany. 
Fitzpatrick, 69, of St. James, a career financial analyst, repeatedly raises the alarm on excessive spending and was one of the few members who stood his ground against the unraveling of Tier 5 and 6 pension changes that had been designed to reduce costs. 
For more than four years, he has advocated for the state to rename its higher educational system to the University of New York and to make Stony Brook University, a neighbor to his district, a national brand. Fitzpatrick also wants Stony Brook to field top conference sports programs. 
Making her first run for elective office, Democrat Lynn M. Trupiano-O'Keefe, 61, of Kings Park, would like to see some of the buildings at the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center repurposed for veterans housing. A retired nuclear medical technologist, she is passionate about reducing medical costs. She supports the New York Health Act, a universal single-payer healthcare system which she said would reduce taxes. 
Trupiano-O'Keefe knows her community and would ably represent it in the Assembly. But Fitzpatrick's principled fiscal restraint advocacy is a voice that must continue to be heard. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Fitzpatrick.

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Michael J. Fitzpatrick for Assembly District 8

Newsday Opinion endorses Fitzpatrick for Assembly District 8

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As a member of the Assembly minority, Michael A. Durso doesn't often see his name as a main bill sponsor. But his fingerprints — and those of his fellow Republicans — are often all over legislation that makes it through the Albany gauntlet, Durso said.&nbsp;Often, the Massapequa Park resident noted, the issues he and other Republicans bring up during debate are the topics addressed in chapter amendments or veto messages,&nbsp;sometimes right down to the word. 
Durso, who is completing his third term in office,&nbsp;wisely articulates&nbsp;the need for changes to the school funding formula, especially to address shifts in technology and the uptick in services required by more vulnerable students, such as English language learners and those with special needs. He's just as capable at assessing his district's aging infrastructure concerns, highlighting the need for a more permanent fix to the Fire Island Inlet Bridge leading to Robert Moses State Park after a gaping hole was patched this year. 
But Durso's passion radiates when he speaks about a bill he hasn't gotten passed yet. Durso, 46, introduced Connor's Law, named after Massapequa High School student Connor Kasin, who died in 2024 after a medical emergency during a charity hockey game. Durso's meaningful and sensible bill would require student athletes to obtain&nbsp;cardiac fitness clearance, including an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram, before they can play interscholastic sports. "I think it will save lives," Durso said. 
West Babylon Democrat Christopher J. Walis announced in August that he was suspending his campaign, but remains on the ballot. Walis, 27, did not meet with the editorial board. 
Durso is an up-and-coming presence in the Nassau&nbsp;GOP for good reason.&nbsp;Durso, a union member who previously served as a sanitation worker and supervisor for Oyster Bay Town,&nbsp;listens to all perspectives&nbsp;and negotiates respectfully. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Durso.

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Michael A. Durso for Assembly District 9

Newsday Opinion endorses Durso for Assembly District 9

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Incumbent Steve Stern, a Democrat from&nbsp;Dix Hills, served for 12 years in the Suffolk County Legislature and ran for Congress before being elected to the Assembly seat in 2018 in a special election. Stern, who turns 58 next week,&nbsp;seeks his&nbsp;fifth full term. 
Conversations with constituents tend to come around to property taxes, he said, adding that there have&nbsp;to be "more layers of relief" beyond the current state cap on local taxes. He said he'd like to see STAR exemptions expanded to include first-time homebuyers and escalating exemptions for senior citizens as they age. 
The Democratic conference, he said, is moving to establish a select committee on school funding. Given the perpetual concern about rising property taxes, Stern defends the current state tax cap as assuring accountability because voter approval is required when school districts seek to raise taxes above the&nbsp;2% cap. 
Stern agrees with the sentiment that&nbsp;uniform statewide&nbsp;guidelines are needed for the safe operation of e-bikes both for riders and pedestrians.&nbsp;He prioritizes&nbsp;the continued expansion of sewers in the district&nbsp;and funding a community center for Huntington Station at the former state armory. Stern also&nbsp;want the state to accelerate its&nbsp;efforts to track and prevent veterans' suicides. 
Stern's Republican opponent, Tiffany L. LeGrow, 46, of Huntington, is not actively campaigning. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Stern.

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Steve Stern for Assembly District 10

Newsday Opinion endorses Stern for Assembly District 10

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Two years ago, the 11th Assembly District offered an open seat, and two qualified candidates — both retired NYPD officers — sought to fill it. 
Now, the district's residents get a rematch, as Amityville Republican Joseph R. Cardinale is again facing North Amityville Democrat Kwani B. O'Pharrow. This time, however, O'Pharrow is the incumbent, after winning a very tight race in 2024. 
O'Pharrow, 55, said he has "learned quickly" how to navigate the politics of the State Legislature. As Long Island representatives, he said, "We have to be the loudest voice in the room" to assure that the region's needs are met. As O'Pharrow points out, that means more than just getting funding for district-specific projects. It's having conversations with Assembly leaders to make sure the entire region receives the infrastructure, transportation and Environmental Bond Act funding it's been promised. 
O'Pharrow recognizes that more of the district, such as Wheatley Heights and parts of Wyandanch, requires sewering, especially to lure more business and housing development to those areas. And he's attentive to one particular missing piece in his neighborhoods: community centers and similar spots that can provide after-school activities and other opportunities, especially for the region's teens. O'Pharrow is connecting with area nonprofits to begin filling that need. 
Cardinale, 72, rightly worries about the departure of younger Long Islanders, and seeks to expand the presence of area trade schools like BOCES. "We're coming into an age right now where you're going to have to start working with your hands, not just at a desk, and we're not putting enough investments into that," he said, noting that the Island's infrastructure and other needs could provide an important pipeline to new jobs. Cardinale suggests making it easier and less expensive for older generations to transfer their wealth to their children and grandchildren by limiting or undoing the tax burden on such transfers. And he spotlights the district's small businesses, saying he'd like to see incentives and tax credits to encourage them to start, stay and grow. 
Cardinale noted that his house is "across from the water," but that after the recent nor'easter, his house was "on the water." Frequent flooding, he said, is "wiping out the South Shore." He'd like to see a more robust program to help families raise their homes. 
Cardinale is smart and innovative, but O'Pharrow has a handle on the complexities of the district, how the region's needs fit in the broader statewide mosaic, and how to use the levers of the Assembly to fight for both. 
Newsday Opinion endorses O'Pharrow.

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Kwani B. O'Pharrow for Assembly District 11

Newsday Opinion endorses O'Pharrow for Assembly District 11

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New York's 12th Assembly District will be represented by a new face regardless of who wins on Election Day after incumbent&nbsp;Keith Brown announced he wouldn't seek reelection. 
Democrat Craig G. Herskowitz, 45, is running against Republican David D. Weber Jr., 58.&nbsp;Both men live in&nbsp;Northport. Herskowitz is an immigration attorney who previously ran for Suffolk County Legislature and the&nbsp;State Senate, while Weber is a small-business owner,&nbsp;member of the Northport Village board of trustees, and a volunteer firefighter. 
Herskowitz says the "mansion" tax enacted in 1989 on homes worth more than&nbsp;$1 million was not inflation-indexed and is saddling new buyers; he favors raising it to $2 million with automatic increases based on the Consumer Price Index.&nbsp;He is against piercing the state property tax cap or raising taxes on the middle class. 
Weber wants the state to solve its energy crisis by fracking and buying energy from outside the state. He is critical of wind power, acknowledging the jobs created are beneficial&nbsp;but questioning whether wind farms generate energy. "I've yet to see whether they're producing results or not," he said. Weber added, "But if they come at the detriment of our ecosystem and our marine life, then we need to slow down and pump the brakes." 
Weber said audits&nbsp;of state agencies, especially the Metropolitan Transportation Authority,&nbsp;would find savings. 
Herskowitz argues that since Democrats will almost assuredly retain control of the Assembly,&nbsp;he would be able to better provide for district&nbsp;residents than Weber, who would be in the minority. 
"If you want more money to go to New York City, you vote for the Republican on Long Island," Herskowitz said. "And if you want to check on the Democrats in the Assembly, you need to elect&nbsp;the Long Island Democrats." 
Herskowitz has governmental experience, previously serving in the FBI and Department of Justice as well as an assistant counsel to the governor. Weber is a sound businessman better suited to addressing community issues at the local level. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Herskowitz.

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Craig G. Herskowitz for Assembly District 12

Newsday Opinion endorses Herskowitz for Assembly District 12

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As chair of the powerful Assembly Judiciary Committee, Charles D. Lavine is in the room where the action happens. In response to the outcry over the failure of an upstate district attorney to prosecute members of a Cornell University fraternity who had sex with a female student incapable of giving consent, Speaker Carl Heastie named Lavine to a working group tasked with changing what is called the "voluntary intoxication loophole." 
That's because Lavine can deftly bridge complex and competing interests to get results. 
This year, the Glen Cove Democrat, 79, was central to passing a bill that, if signed, will establish a Veteran Suicide Mortality Review Board within the state Health Department to analyze the factors behind what Lavine calls "the scourge" of suicides among veterans and find the best ways to intervene to save lives. On the district level, he obtained $250,000 to rehabilitate sports fields in the Roslyn school district and is seeking funding to improve the quality of drinking water. 
Asked about an agenda for next session, Lavine states the concern directly: "What are we going to do about Jew hatred?" He says the new law creating 50-foot security perimeters outside houses of worship during demonstrations makes it a misdemeanor for protesters to enter that zone. Lavine says it's time for lawmakers to stand up to those "legitimizing hatred." 
Republican challenger Conner Phillip Dunleavy, 31, of Glen Cove, works in public relations for Hempstead Town. He wants to eliminate state income taxes for those earning less than $50,000 individually and $100,000 for joint filers, but he also would eliminate subsidies for home solar panels and rebates for heat pump systems. 
He says local police should work in tandem with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and says crime is on the increase, citing the way some items are behind locked panels in chain store pharmacies. 
Lavine is a wise and influential leader in the majority Democratic caucus who also can effectively argue for suburban interests. He deserves to return to Albany. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Lavine.

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Charles D. Lavine for Assembly District 13

Newsday Opinion endorses Lavine for Assembly District 13

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The 14th District has had the same representative for 24 years. But with David G. McDonough's long-overdue retirement at 89, voters will have the choice between a familiar face — and a new one. 
Seaford Democrat John E. Brooks spent six years in the State Senate until he lost a reelection bid in 2022 after redistricting substantially changed the makeup of his district. As a state senator, Brooks championed big changes to how property taxes are used to fund schools. His campaign for the Assembly revives that messaging. 
Brooks, 76, notes that Seaford lacks commercial property, so 70% of its school district budget is funded by residential taxes. He suggests a system that would cap that figure at 50%, while recommending that the state do more "bulk purchasing" to save costs for smaller school districts. He says the state Education Department should start evaluating spending for what works and what doesn't from district to district, to strengthen efficiencies and cut waste. 
Beyond that signature issue, Brooks is attentive to the district's flooding concerns and wants to find new ways to establish or incentivize housing that can accommodate multiple generations in one space. 
Republican Shannon R. Fredericks, of Seaford, is familiar with the ways of Albany, having worked as a State Senate scheduler and GOP regional coordinator between the caucus' minority leader and Nassau County. Fredericks, 29, said she's "trying to bring a voice for the younger people," noting that many friends already have left the state. She supports income tax changes, first proposed by State Sen. Steven D. Rhoads, which would eliminate the state income tax for single filers earning $50,000 or less. And Fredericks said she wants to "fix the railroad," underscoring recent changes to ticket purchase processes that have caused problems particularly for senior riders. She's right to bring younger Long Islanders' concerns to the forefront, but she lacks specifics and new ideas. 
Brooks, with his vast knowledge and experience, and his important and thoughtful proposals on school funding, would make a welcome return to Albany. Government, he said, must become "more efficient." He deserves another chance to help make that happen. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Brooks.

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John E. Brooks for Assembly District 14

Newsday Opinion endorses Brooks for Assembly District 14

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It's a game of musical chairs. State Sen. Jack Martins retired, leading Assemb. Jake Blumencranz to vie for that seat. Blumencranz's move in turn leaves open the Assembly seat he has occupied for nearly four years. Enter two newcomers: Glen Head Democrat Dean Tarulli and East Norwich Republican Paolo A. Pironi.&nbsp; 
Tarulli, 39,&nbsp;is a marine scientist&nbsp;who has spent years working in local government on coastal resiliency, infrastructure&nbsp;and flood mitigation. That experience&nbsp;gives him a breadth of knowledge when it comes to the environmental needs of the district, but also a familiarity with&nbsp;how government works and how it&nbsp;can be better. Tarulli recommends taking closer looks at the amount of money the state&nbsp;spends&nbsp;on consultants, when public employees in house might be able to do the job better and less expensively. 
He has specific ideas big and small for his district, ranging from expanding&nbsp;tree-planting efforts to electrifying the Long Island Rail Road's&nbsp;Oyster Bay Branch. Tarulli said district residents&nbsp;worry about Liberty Water's high bills; he supports public water. And he&nbsp;intricately understands the details of the Propel NY Energy transmission line effort,&nbsp;pointing particularly&nbsp;to how Propel has handled its communication with residents.&nbsp;"They have done the worst possible job presenting this project to the public," Tarulli said. 
Pironi, 38,&nbsp;a developer of single-family homes, emphasizes that housing affordability requires reducing&nbsp;regulations to "make it easier for single-family homes to be built while keeping our suburban way of life." He recommends providing homebuying tax credits for blue-collar workers and advocates for smaller home development and a potential rent-to-own model, where young residents could start by renting and then graduate to buying their first homes. When asked about specifics for the district, Pironi spoke generally about Oyster Bay's&nbsp;work on water quality, saying he'd like to secure funding to protect&nbsp;shellfish and the aquifer.&nbsp; 
The Assembly — and the district — could benefit from Tarulli's well-honed skill set and his ability to distill, evaluate and address the complex challenges facing the state and region.&nbsp; 
Newsday Opinion endorses Tarulli.

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Dean Tarulli for Assembly District 15

Newsday Opinion endorses Tarulli for Assembly District 15

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Two years ago, Republican Daniel Norber won an extraordinarily tight race against incumbent Gina Sillitti to represent the 16th District. But Norber has decided not to run again, leaving the seat up for grabs. 
Great Neck Republican David Hassid, who graduated from Stony Brook University last year, previously served as Norber's legislative director and then as a Town of North Hempstead legislative aide. Hassid, 23, supports state income tax changes proposed by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and argues that while significant funds go toward the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Washington Branch of the Long Island Rail Road hasn't reaped the benefits. He'd like to see stations revitalized and a "more meaningful investment," although he also expressed uncertainty about the MTA's current plan to extend the yard and tracks there, noting concerns about potential private property use. Similarly, Hassid said he wouldn't take a definitive position on the Propel NY Energy transmission line, saying, "We need to see the facts." 
Community activist Kim Keiserman, a former high school social studies teacher who now serves on the North Hempstead Housing Authority board and the Baxter Estates Village Planning Board, correctly assesses some of the flaws in the state's school aid formula, noting that some districts' designation as high-wealth is "masking" other significant issues, such as the number of students with special needs or who are English language learners. The Port Washington Democrat said she'd like to determine why suggested formula changes have not been implemented. 
Keiserman, 55, said that while she's not interested in raising taxes on the middle or upper middle classes, she would be "open" to the notion of doing so for the top 1% in order to meet the region's needs and address wealth inequality. And she'd like to see policies that address the housing inventory crunch, by allowing seniors to downsize and younger residents to buy their first homes. She hopes to address the district's water quality and sewering challenges, particularly in assisting businesses in hooking up. And she unequivocally supports the Port Washington rail yard expansion, but she's appropriately nuanced on her take on Propel. "The need is real," she said, adding there are legitimate questions that require answers. 
Keiserman first ran for elected office in an unsuccessful bid against State Sen. Jack Martins two years ago. She has become a more thoughtful, knowledgeable and visionary leader since then, and she's certainly ready for Albany. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Keiserman.

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Kim Keiserman for Assembly District 16

Newsday Opinion endorses Keiserman for Assembly District 16

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Since being elected to the Assembly in 2018, John K. Mikulin has concentrated on constituent services and being a voice for the interests of his district's residents. 
The 38-year-old Republican said the role of the minority caucus is to ask tough questions that can improve bills offered by the majority, a role he embraces particularly as a member of the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee. 
He said language tweaks for a bill on stickers placed on natural gas ovens and changes to a rule regarding retainers for real estate agents simply made the legislation better for all New Yorkers. 
Mikulin, of Bethpage, is also on the Election Law Committee and voted against this year's change to state law that moved local elections to even-numbered years. A bill he introduced this year requiring a signature and government-issued photo identification for both voter registration and when voting failed to make it out of committee. 
Amid heavy attention on national politics, Mikulin is trying to bring the focus back to local concerns in his campaign, like the proposed path of the Empire State Trail. Right now, the walking and biking path is planned to pass through a residential area in his district, behind Long Island Motor Parkway in Levittown. He is exploring alternative routes so the trail can be built without inconveniencing residents. 
He introduced several bills to toughen penal law where he thinks bail reform went too far, like jail time requirements for those who violate orders of protection. Another was a proposal mandating life in prison for anyone who recklessly causes the death of a minor, after a 12-year-old was killed by a stray bullet in August while riding his bicycle outside a bodega in the Bronx. Neither measure has advanced, like many of the bills Mikulin proposes. 
Still, there are other important ways for lawmakers to make an impact. Nassau University Medical Center is in Mikulin's district and, despite his opposition to the state takeover, his attention and years of pushing for funding have been welcome. He should be persistent about his pledge to get an improved maternity ward reopened. On another major challenge in his district — the Bethpage plume — he should continue advocating for remediation, including the additional cleanup needs that emerged at Bethpage Community Park. 
East Meadow Democrat Sunita J. Lofters, 66, is not actively campaigning and did not meet with the editorial board. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Mikulin.

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John K. Mikulin for Assembly District 17

Newsday Opinion endorses Mikulin for Assembly District 17

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Incumbent Noah Burroughs, 50, became famous in and around his home community of Hempstead Village as a player for the Jets in the National Football League. Over the past two decades, however, he tackled the challenge of teaching, in the Hempstead school district, and now he's finishing his first term as a lawmaker. 
In the Assembly, Burroughs keeps his eyes on ways to assist education and youth. Recently, he was credited with getting $80,000 in state money allocated for improving battered basketball courts at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Freeport. He also secured $20,000 to upgrade bathrooms at Bishop Frank O. White Park in Freeport and make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
In an editorial board meeting, Burroughs, who voted for a moratorium on AI data centers across the state, expressed deep skepticism about their ultimate value to local communities if built. 
As he did in his 2024 campaign, Burroughs criticizes the current funding method for charter schools for drawing resources from the public schools serving most students, a strong sentiment in the majority Democratic caucus. He also defends the State Legislature's high-cost improvement of state pension packages for Tier 5 and Tier 6 government employees, a move that was mostly a matter of consensus for both major parties in Albany. 
Burroughs' Republican opponent is Charlene Jackson, 60, of Baldwin, who is special counsel for the Nassau County Assessor's Office. On development policy, she speaks constructively of making maximum use of land trusts to remove the scourge of so-called zombie houses in the district. 
A former commissioner of the Village of Hempstead Community Development Agency who laments the lack of affordable housing, Jackson told the editorial board: "Rather than new development, let's redevelop what we already have, and bring these houses back on the tax rolls." Jackson would like more community organizations to tap into the housing trust fund model. Housing trust funds, which exist at the federal, state and local levels, are pools of money used to create, preserve and rehabilitate affordable housing. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Burroughs.

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Noah Burroughs for Assembly District 18

Newsday Opinion endorses Burroughs for Assembly District 18

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Edward P. Ra, 44, of Garden City South, became the Assembly's Republican minority leader in February — the first Long Islander to hold that position since Perry B. Duryea of Montauk in 1978. 
The Mineola-born Ra was first elected to the Assembly in 2010 after serving as a deputy town attorney for Hempstead between 2008 and 2010. In his current post, Ra not only represents his district but essentially pushes issues sometimes counter to, and sometimes in sync with, the overpowering Democratic majority.&nbsp;He was critical of the majority's long delay in approving a budget this year and rightly&nbsp;objects to policy changes being stuffed into a spending plan. 
The minority Republicans pushed early on for the energy rebate checks of up to $200 that the state distributed this year. GOP legislators also had a hand in championing universal pre-K programs and taxpayer help with childcare. For several ideas, his conference members "do what they need to do to move them forward rather than worrying about ego" and getting the bigger share of credit, Ra told the editorial board. 
Ra's opponent is Democrat Colleen Connaughton, 61, of Garden City. Her background differs from that of most state legislative hopefuls, having worked as a journalist and television producer for Reuters TV for more than&nbsp;16 years. 
She expresses particular interest in improving healthcare and housing as well as younger children's education. In Europe, she says she's seen how universal healthcare "gives peace of mind you can't imagine." Even if the United States&nbsp;will not provide free healthcare for all, programs can be reworked for greater public benefit, she told the editorial board. As a first-time candidate, she says a "fresh set of eyes" is needed to rethink programs. 
She's not wrong. But Ra has been a common-sense legislator for years and now holds a position of leadership and influence, which benefits Long Island residents. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Ra.

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Edward P. Ra for Assembly District 19

Newsday Opinion endorses Ra for Assembly District 19

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There's&nbsp;one issue Eric Ari Brown puts at the center of his work in the district he represents: antisemitism. He's introduced nine bills on the topic,&nbsp;such as defunding&nbsp;universities that promote antisemitism or "look the other way," and he'd like to push those forward. 
Putting such a spotlight on rising antisemitism at a time when it's particularly pervasive&nbsp;is important, not only for Brown's district, which has a significant Jewish population concerned about its safety, but for the state as a whole. But Brown, 58, is just as passionate about the 20th District's other needs, paying particular attention to&nbsp;small businesses and libraries.&nbsp;He's trying to&nbsp;assist the beleaguered Peninsula Public Library, first by getting the library a mobile bus and now by working to improve the institution's governance. Libraries, he said, are "totally forgotten in every which way" by the state. 
The Cedarhurst Republican&nbsp;advocates for broader — and more — public hearings in Albany,&nbsp;which he said should come before decisions are made and bills are&nbsp;finalized.&nbsp;"Let's bring it out first. Let's discuss it first. Let's debate it first," he said.&nbsp; 
Cedarhurst Democrat Meir Fischer, too, focuses on antisemitism and hate crimes. Fischer, 24, said he'd like to work with synagogues, churches and mosques to determine exactly what each needs for security improvements and other upgrades, rather than handling the issue from the top down. Fischer also emphasizes&nbsp;the importance of making the public schools in the district whole, before any money goes toward yeshivas or other private schools. "We've got to make sure the public schools are funded properly," he said. Fischer cares about his communities, but lacks the expertise to fully represent them. 
Brown has that expertise, but he still wears multiple hats, as he's also deputy mayor and a trustee of the Village of Cedarhurst. He says he puts politics aside, though there&nbsp;have been concerns raised to the contrary. Brown correctly notes that state ethics law allows the dual roles, but his&nbsp;attention must be on&nbsp;assuring his entire Assembly district is well-represented.&nbsp; 
Newsday Opinion endorses Brown.

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Eric Ari Brown for Assembly District 20

Newsday Opinion endorses Brown for Assembly District 20

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Incumbent Democrat Judy A. Griffin, 63, of Rockville Centre, is seeking to serve a fourth term but this time her opponent is not Brian Curran, whom she unseated in 2018&nbsp;only to have him eke out a one-term win in 2022 before she won the seat back in 2024. 
In 2025, Griffin successfully championed a much-needed law that allows for confidential peer-to-peer counseling for police officers. She supports a state law regulating the use of e-bikes for riders and pedestrians. As part of her advocacy for the&nbsp;municipalization of Liberty Water, Griffin supports a proposal for the state to&nbsp;give $1 million to the South Nassau Water Authority to take&nbsp;it over. 
Higher on her&nbsp;to-do list are concerns about education funding. Griffin, who is critical of charter schools,&nbsp;would give the state's Board of Regents sole control of approving charter schools, eliminating any ability for&nbsp;SUNY to create ones. She would fight for additional school&nbsp;funding to make sure students with special needs are placed in the proper programs and would allow&nbsp;pre-K funding to be used to expand space in existing buildings to seat more children.&nbsp;Incentivizing districts to share procurement and other services, she said, would help keep costs down. 
Republican Irene V. Villacci, 62, of East Rockaway,&nbsp;is an elder care attorney in private practice who also serves as Nassau County's executive director of community development, an office which distributes federal dollars known as block grants for local projects. In Albany, she would advocate&nbsp;for increased tax credits for volunteer firefighters whom she describes as the backbone of local communities. She also supports more generous pensions to recruit more talented people to public service. Villacci would like to restore a penal law that requires those ages&nbsp;16 and 17 charged with felonies to be prosecuted as adults. 
Griffin is well-versed in the needs of her district and the intricacies&nbsp;of school funding, which is especially needed for the expansion&nbsp;of pre-K programs. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Griffin.

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Judy A. Griffin for Assembly District 21

Newsday Opinion endorses Griffin for Assembly District 21

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Michaelle C. Solages is ascending in the Assembly’s firmament, and is now chair of the body’s Local Governments Committee and the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic &amp; Asian Legislative Caucus. That puts her in a key position, where, she said, she wants to help the Long Island delegation “galvanize and organize” to “get much more than we’ve been getting,” from funding universal pre-K to making sure the region’s perspective is heard and its needs addressed. 
Solages, 41, suggests finding new ways to “modernize” the tax cap to deal with inflationary pressures, but doesn’t think anything will happen immediately. 
A “big win” for the Elmont Democrat came with her bill this year that prevents utility companies from passing on lobbying costs to ratepayers, instead requiring shareholders to foot the bill. Now, Solages wants to take a hard look at the state Public Service Commission ratemaking process to avoid what she calls “blanket” rate increase approvals. But Solages is also focused on her constituents’ high Liberty Water bills, noting that she attends every South Nassau Water Authority meeting and hopes for a faster process to municipalization. 
Solages’ persistence and commitment have served her well in successfully navigating difficult negotiations, especially in terms of economic development like the remake of Belmont Park and its extensive property. This year, she worked to find a location and plan for the promised Elmont community center, which is moving forward. Now, Solages hopes to play a big role in the revitalization of Valley Stream, which won a state $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant this year. “I’m not going to squander an opportunity,” she said. 
She feels similarly about the future of the Southern State Parkway. Exit 15 ramps have been upgraded; Exit 13 is underway. She’s focused on Exits 17 and 18, but also has bigger aspirations of creating a “highway priority zone” that would need more traffic control and enforcement, and seeking new ideas to fix the troubled roadway. “It’s my passion project,” Solages said. 
Valley Stream Republican Robert G. Inzerillo is a Valley Stream public safety officer, and a security officer for local arenas and stadiums. Inzerillo, 64, who also coaches and directs a baseball program, said he’d focus on youth development and public safety. He said he wants to provide more resources for state and local police, increase state patrols on the Southern State, coordinate with utilities when road work is done, and make sure gender identity-related issues aren’t taught in school. 
Solages has become a significant voice for Long Island. The region needs her in Albany. 
Newsday Opinion endorses Solages.

Newsday Opinion's 2026 New York State Assembly election endorsements

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