The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act was the biggest local winner of the night on Tuesday, passing with 71 percent of the vote, while incumbents are projected to be victorious in most local races. Unofficial tallies show Congressman Nick LaLota winning the race to retain his seat, and State Senator Anthony Palumbo and State Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio will return to Albany, while Tommy John Schiavoni has won the State Assembly seat held for the past three decades by Fred W. Thiele, Jr.
First Congressional District
Republican Congressman Nick LaLota, an attorney and former Naval officer from Amityville, will stay in office for another two years, after preliminary results show him fending off a challenge from former CNN political commentator John Avlon. With 556 of 561 districts in Suffolk County reporting just before 11 p.m., Mr. LaLota had 55.75 percent of the vote, and Mr. Avlon had 44.19 percent.
“I’m deeply honored that Long Islanders have entrusted me to serve for another two years! This convincing victory is a testament to our shared commitment to tackling our nation’s toughest challenges—from securing the border and fighting high prices to increasing the SALT deduction cap,” said Mr. LaLota on the social media platform X early Wednesday morning. “Looking forward to working with President-elect Trump to secure the border, bring prices down, re-assert America’s position on the world stage, and increase the SALT deduction.
New York State Senate
With 211 of 214 districts reporting, Republican State Senator Anthony Palumbo is projected to return to office, taking home 53.65 percent of the vote against former Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker.
New York State Assembly
Democratic Southampton Town Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni has won the race for the First New York State Assembly District seat vacated by Fred Thiele, with 55.93 percent of the vote against Republican Shelter Island Town Attorney Stephen Kiely.
Incumbent Republican Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio has retained her seat in the Second New York State Assembly district, with 63.44 percent of the vote against Democrat Tricia Chiaramonte, who did not run an active campaign.
Propositions
Statewide Proposition One, which expands the groups of people who are protected from discrimination, passed with 68.8 percent of the vote statewide. Fifty-four percent of Suffolk County voters voted for the proposal.
The proposition expands protections against unequal treatment to include treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy. The New York State Constitution had previously only protected against unequal treatment based on “race, color, creed or religion.” Those protections would remain in place.
Suffolk County Proposition Two, the Water Quality Restoration Act, passed overwhelmingly, with 71.91 percent of the vote. The proposition extends the county’s Drinking Water Protection Program, funded by a ¼ percent sales tax, through, 2060, and create a new ⅛ percent sales tax to establish the Water Quality Restoration Fund, also funded through 2060.
“Suffolk County residents showed up this election day and voted YES to protect our water for generations to come!” said The Nature Conservancy’s Long Island Policy Advisor Kevin McDonald. “This victory is the culmination of decades of work and shows the power of dedication and collaboration. The universal need for clean water transcends all politics.”
“Tonight Suffolk County voters were presented with the most compelling environmental questions in recent memory, and they spoke with overwhelming unity on the critical need for us to invest for a clean water future,” agreed Group for the East End President Bob DeLuca. “This was a great day for all Suffolk residents who enjoy our coastal waters and our Long Island way of life. Given the strength of this outcome, we are incredibly grateful to all those who helped to build and sustain the broad and enduring coalition of support that worked together, solved problems, raised awareness, earned the bipartisan support of our elected leaders, brought this decision to the public, and proved that given the chance, Suffolk voters would stand up for future of our precious environment, good jobs, and future generations.”
In East Hampton Town, Proposition Three, which will allow the town to transfer a town nature preserve at the triangle intersection of Three Mile Harbor Road and Springs-Fireplace Road to Suffolk County for an as-yet-to-be-determined roadway project, passed with 61.64 percent of the vote.
In Southampton Town, Proposition Three, a land deal that would allow Southampton Village to temporarily place algae harvesters in Dosher Park next to Lake Agawam to filter water out of the lake, passed with 64.33 percent of the vote.
Shelter Island Town
Democrat Arnott (Gordon) Gooding is victorious in the three-way race to fill the seat on the Town Board vacated by former Councilwoman Amber Brach-Williams when she was elected Town Supervisor in 2023. Mr. Gooding took 47.83 percent of the vote. Republican candidate Thomas Cronin took 30.46 percent and Lisa Shaw of Island Action took 21.71 percent.
Incumbent Democratic Town Justice Stanley Birnbaum was victorious on Shelter Island, with 61.36 percent of the vote, facing Republican Michael Carey..
East Hampton Town
Ian Calder-Piedmonte handily won the special election to keep the seat he was appointed to early this year after former Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez was elected Town Supervisor in 2023, with 75.53 percent of the vote. His Republican opponent, Hyman Mariampolski, took 24.43 percent.
Southampton Town
Adam Grossman and Karen Sartain have been re-elected town justices, running unopposed.
Riverhead Town
Sean Walter has won the race for Town Justice with 57.88 percent of the vote.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story stated Mr. Grossman had defeated Ms. Sartain in the Southampton Town Justice race. Both candidates are incumbents running unopposed, and both have been re-elected.
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