Expected Suffolk vacancies for Senate, county comptroller draw GOP hopefuls

Daily Point

Assemblyman, others seek Weik's State Senate seat; Carpenter may screen for comptroller

A week after State Sen. Alexis Weik, a Republican from Sayville, announced her decision not to run for reelection,  there are already multiple local political players being named as potential GOP candidates for SD8, which is, as one observer called it, a "ruby red district."

Assemb. Jarett Gandolfo confirmed to The Point that he is "definitely" interested in switching chambers in Albany and running for the seat. Gandolfo, who also lives in Sayville, noted that he understands the district but also has been able to take some leadership positions in the Assembly minority that have "given me an understanding of a lot of issues across pretty much every public policy area."

And, he added, he recognizes the need to work across the aisle — something he’d need to do as a minority member in the State Senate, too.

"As Republicans in Albany, you have to play nice in the sandbox a little bit," Gandolfo said. "There are always going to be major disagreements, but there's also going to be a lot of common ground. You need to be willing to reach out and at least be a human."

But with screenings likely taking place later this month, Gandolfo won't be the only potential candidate under consideration. And since the Senate district crosses into Nassau County, party officials from both counties likely will be involved in the screening and selection process.

Assemb. Doug Smith, who is the Town of Islip Republican Party chair, told The Point that he's not interested in the Senate seat but said he expects interest not only from Gandolfo but Assemb. Mike Durso, who represents the Massapequa end of the district, and Islip Receiver of Taxes Andy Wittman. Smith noted that the list could grow, as others could choose to screen.

Indeed, others have mentioned Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter, who is term-limited in 2027, and former Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey, who was term-limited last year, as possible candidates.

Both, however, may have their eyes on another election. With Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy also term-limited, that job has become a hot item.

"I've had a number of highly qualified elected officials from across Suffolk County reach out," Smith told The Point.

Among them: Carpenter, McCaffrey and Wittman, along with Suffolk Legis. Steve Flotteron and Assemb. Keith Brown.

Wittman, who has worked in real estate investment since 2004, told The Point he began fundraising for the comptroller job about 2½ weeks ago, and raised $68,000 in that period.

"The comptroller position fits mostly within my wheelhouse," Wittman said, noting that he approached party officials about the job, whereas others approached him about the State Senate opening.

Carpenter, who had $596,922 on hand as of July, noted that before serving as Islip Town supervisor, she served as Suffolk County treasurer, then an elected position whose functions have since been folded into the comptroller's office.

"I've really been very, very blessed and now, at this stage of my life, to have my name in consideration to be a New York State senator or to be the Suffolk County comptroller, it's very exciting to think about," Carpenter told The Point. "And I certainly have all intentions of continuing to work for many, many years as long as the good Lord allows me. I've learned to never say never."

With Carpenter unable to run again, the Islip supervisor seat is also garnering attention, with multiple observers mentioning Suffolk OTB head Phil Boyle and Smith as possible candidates.

"My wife would be happy to have me home and I would certainly take a look at it," said Smith.

Smith added that if he were to become supervisor, he'd resign the town party chairmanship, noting that he wouldn't have the time to do both jobs. Islip Town ethics laws also prevent elected officials from holding political party leadership positions.

But if Carpenter were to leave the supervisor spot before her term is up, the seat would be up for grabs in 2026 — a year early. That could shift the dynamic even more, since as of now, Smith plans to run for his Assembly seat again this year.

— Randi F. Marshall randi.marshall@newsday.com

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Final Point

And Suozzi's challenger will be ...

Should Republicans be concerned that they haven't chosen a challenger to oppose Democratic incumbent Rep. Tom Suozzi this fall?

Sources were tight-lipped — at least on the record — about who would get the Republican nomination, but with the state nominating convention scheduled for February, anticipation is building for who will get the nod to try to oust Suozzi in New York's competitive 3rd Congressional District.

Michael LiPetri, who lost to Suozzi in 2024 by just 51.7% to 48.3%, is considered the front-runner, according to several Republican insiders. Donald Trump topped the ticket that year, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor, will do so this year.

Already in the '26 mix is Greg Hach, who withdrew from consideration in '24 to clear the path for LiPetri. He told The Point if he doesn't secure the nomination from party leadership this time, he will primary whoever does.

"I fully expect to win a primary should there be one," Hach wrote in a statement to The Point. "This is a winnable seat — President Trump easily carried the district — but only a true MAGA candidate can win it. Running a Democrat-lite candidate who already lost to Suozzi makes no sense."

A Nassau County Republican spokesperson did not return a request for comment. A Republican source told The Point that LiPetri "seems to be the odds-on favorite" for the party's nomination.

It's an important swing district for control of the House, and Suozzi won in 2024 with an advantage of 12,958 out of more than 362,000 votes. The district, which includes a piece of Queens, is considered to lean Democratic, and there are 60,000 more active registered Democrats than Republicans, according to the New York State Board of Elections' most recent data.

According to Federal Election Commission campaign finance filings from September, Suozzi raised $2.4 million and had $3.9 million on hand. With the election in 10 months, whoever faces him will need to raise a ton of money in a short amount of time.

Not having a designated candidate yet to challenge an incumbent isn't concerning, a Republican source said, because the election won't really heat up for a while. "I don't see it as a problem." The source also did say primaries are a concern.

"You might get broken and bruised, but you gain name recognition."

Regardless of who gets the GOP nod, the party is already assailing Suozzi, sending a news release linking to a New York Post story that said Suozzi had the best stock portfolio performance of all congressional Democrats last year. "Tom Suozzi is getting rich while in Congress, making more from stocks than any of his colleagues," Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci said in the Tuesday release.

— Mark Nolan mark.nolan@newsday.com

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